The Dayton Jewish Observer, December 2022

Spielberg's memoir film, After The Fabelmans, one ofbook his best p. 30 David Moss designs Grace Meals in comic form p. 22

THE DAYTON Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton

December 2022 Kislev/Tevet 5783 Vol. 27, No. 4

OBSERVER

The Miami Valley’s Jewish Monthly • daytonjewishobserver.org Marshall Weiss

Hillel Academy celebrates six decades

Happy Chanukah

Wiesenthal play Dec. 4

29

Tom Dugan in Wiesenthal

Apple Piroshki for dessert

27 Hillel Academy kindergartners (L to R): Calder Savir, Amelia Scorelle, Yisroel Simon, Idan Atzmon, Avi Lader

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

DAYTON Dayton Daily News

Hillel Academy celebrates six decades

'Evolving with the times,' K-6 Jewish day school thrives with project-based learning

By Marshall Weiss, The Observer When Hillel Academy opened as Dayton's first Jewish day school in September 1961 — with just a kindergarten — the little fanfare it garnered was in Dayton's daily papers. Nothing about it was included in the Jewish Community Council News, the monthly newsletter of what is now the Jewish Federation. Even Anne Hammerman, editor of the Dayton Jewish Chronicle, and a staunch advocate of Jewish education, had expressed her ambivalence toward the project at the beginning.

"The Jewish community of Dayton is all astir concerning the establishment of a Jewish day school this fall," she wrote in the June 30, 1961 Dayton Jewish Chronicle. "As can be expected, there is much to be said for and against such a project in this community...One thing for sure, one cannot be passive about this issue. You are either for or against it and thinking parents and individuals have valid arguments in both direc- Hillel Co-Principal Kathy Mecoli tions."

Earlier that month, Asher Bogin, Charles B. Fox, and Keith Saeks filed articles of incorporation for Hillel with the state of Ohio. Saeks would serve as Hillel's first president. Also on that first board was Herbert Jaffe, Lloyd Jaffe, Albert Kuhr, Beth Jacob Congregation Rabbi Samuel Fox, and Beth Abraham Synagogue Rabbi Joseph Sternstein.

They hired a young husband and wife from New York, Rabbi Bertram A. Leff (26) and Gloria Leff (21), to oversee the school: the rabbi as its principal, his wife to teach kindergarten. Classes for the six students were first held at the old Beth Jacob on Kumler Avenue in Dayton View.

Bark Mitzvah Boy

In a previous interview with The Observer, Rabbi Samuel Fox said he and his wife, Miriam, went house to house to recruit children for Hillel.

Their son Joshua was a student in the first class.

"People wanted more for their children than just a smattering of knowledge," the rabbi said.

"Then again, I can't say the community was in favor of it. Let's say the Jewish Community Council, they had their own vested interest. They realized that a day school would make more outlay of money. There were some that oppose day school altogether; they believe in public education on those grounds."

But the persistence of a small group of parents brought Hillel Academy into being. "We had meetings at our house and I remember some of them saying, ‘Rabbi, why didn’t you bring us through the front door?’" Fox recalled. "I said, ‘It wouldn’t have gotten through the front door.’ We did a lot of groundwork and got a lot of people interested in it, so the Federation went along.”

By December 1961, Hammerman proclaimed in the Dayton Jewish Chronicle that "the Hillel Academy is now an active force in the community and will surely be instrumental in the years to come in enriching Jewish life and culture in Dayton."

Hillel Academy fifth grader Michael Davidson studies Hebrew in 1966. He Across the ups and downs began in the Jewish day school's first class, the 1961-62 kindergarten. and cultural and religious changes of six decades, Hillel Academy's staff and parents, leaders and donors have brought to the current generation a Jewish day school that Premier Retirement Living not only survives but thrives.

For the last 11 years, Hillel has been entrusted to the care Hillel Co-Principal of another husband-and-wife Dan Mecoli team, Co-Principals Kathy and Dan Mecoli. It's likely the Mecolis have been Hillel's longest serving administrators.

Their approach with Hillel's 47 current students in grades K through six, Kathy Mecoli said, is to change structures in response to the children's needs.

"We change it up and that has to happen here because we're such a small entity," she said. "If you don't change it up, it just doesn't work."

Dr. Michael Davidson, now 66, was in that first kindergarten class of 1961-62. "We had four girls and seven boys," he recalled of the years with Continued on Page Four

MAY THE LIGHT OF CHANUKAH BRING MIRACLES TO US ALL.

From the editor’s desk

No latkes were harmed in the making of this cartoon . . . Yet.

BMB c O Menachem

I've been asked if I'm going to write an opinion piece about Yellow Springs resident Dave Chappelle's SNL monologue on Nov. 12. I don't Marshall have anything new to say beyond the Weiss piece I wrote little more than a year ago in these pages, Does Chappelle get a free pass on hate? (You can find it at daytonjewishobserver.org.) Except that the answer to the headline is a strong yes. If we have allies in the Miami Valley, this would be a good time for them to speak up.

With the Festival of Lights, Chanukah, fast approaching, may we all give and receive the gift of light. The light of kindness, empathy, understanding, and love to banish the darkness of cruelty, indifference, ignorance, and hate.

Wishing our readers a happy, meaningful Chanukah.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

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Hillel Academy moved into its own building on Woodbury Drive in Harrison Township in 1973. Four years later, it expanded to include a high school.

Hillel Sierra Lione, writer

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back for the graduations and award ceremonies. We really felt proud Continued from Page Three about who we were, what we were those in his grade. "Then Shel Bassel doing, and what we were trying to came and made it eight boys and four accomplish for the Dayton Jewish girls. That was the first class. The girls community." left at, like, sixth or seventh grade, Parents presented their children because their parents were worried with their graduation certificates, deabout the social life for the girls." signed by classmate Shel Bassel, now Now a cardiologist in Chicago, a Jerusalem-based sofer (ritual scribe).

Davidson said his parents grew up in Bassel said he learned how to use a small towns and neither had any Jew- calligraphic pen and started to teach ish education. himself Hebrew and English calligra"They had a strong Jewish identity," phy at Hillel. he said. "They wanted to see their kids "Perhaps the biggest impact was get a better Jewish education." a love for Jewish learning," Bassel Some of his classmates' fathers recalled of Hillel. "I still remember were rabbis and some of the boys in Mr. Cziegler teaching me Rashi on that first class would become rabbis, Chumash for the first time and it Davidson said. But he added many opened a new world for me. I totally were not from Orthodox homes. Two fell in love with learning Gemara and families belonged to Temple Israel, that has been an anchor to my JudaDayton's only Reform congregation at ism throughout my life." the time.

Hillel moved to its own buildBy 1967, 118 children were ening on Woodbury Drive in Harrison rolled at Hillel from pre-K through Township in 1973 and opened its high fifth grade. Bursting at the seams, school in 1977. Its student populathe school's location rotated among tion peaked in the early 1990s, at 190 classrooms at Beth Abraham and students, with nearly 50 in the high Beth Jacob, and even a Dayton View school. But because of a shrinking church.

Jewish community, declining enrollDavidson's eighth-grade class ment, and budgetary constraints, Hilgraduated from Hillel in 1970. lel discontinued its high school grades "They had a really concerted effort in 1999 and 2000. to make us feel like we were pioWith the population shift of Jewish neers," he said. "Even bringing us Continued on Page Five

Marshall Weiss

Billing Sheila Myers, smyers@jfgd.net 937-610-1555 Proofreader Rachel Haug Gilbert Observer Advisor Martin Gottlieb Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton Mary Rita Weissman President Dan Sweeny President Elect Marni Flagel Secretary Neil Friedman Treasurer Ben Mazer VP Personnel Teddy Goldenberg VP Resource Dev. Dr. Heath Gilbert Immediate Past Pres.

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PAGE 4

Bruce Huntsbarger goes over assignments with current students in Hillel's upper grades. Since 2010, Hillel has been based on the third floor of Beth Abraham Synagogue at Sugar Camp in Oakwood.

Please recycle this newspaper.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

DAYTON Continued from Page Four households from the suburbs north of Dayton to the suburbs to the south, Hillel moved in 2010 to the third floor of Beth Abraham's new home at Sugar Camp in Oakwood.

Hillel's board hired the Mecolis to run the school 11 years ago, with only 22 students enrolled in grades K to four. The school's goal was to increase enrollment to 50.

When the Mecolis arrived, the school had been through a "clean sweep." With the precipitous drop in enrollment, all teachers were made to reapply for their jobs the year before.

Few had been rehired.

"They didn't think the academic component was as strong as it should be," Kathy Mecoli said. "It was kind of an awkward time to come in because tensions were high. And then there were different attitudes about the Jewish component of Hillel: was it truly eclectic, was everybody welcome? We were at an advantage there because, not being Jewish, everybody would talk to us."

The Mecolis asked the parents and local rabbis what they loved about Hillel, what they wouldn't want to see changed, and what they would like to see changed and developed.

The focus of the Mecolis' approach is project-based learning.

"We began to bring artists to the school as opposed to, here's the science class, here's the social studies class. And we got kids engaged in things," she said. "We did projects where maybe they'd leave school for half a day or a day, do research in the river, create songs about what they were doing. It was just getting them off of a traditional kind of school."

She said they make a point not to measure students against each other, but in terms of their own growth.

"We don't emphasize 'You're a first grader, you're a second grader.' You are who you are and we're taking you as far as we can take you. That's been a major change. They're analyzing their own work and coming up with goals and there are checks along the way. If their plan is not working, then we make a new plan. But the whole idea is they are taking ownership for it."

When asked what he likes about Hillel, fourth-grader Gabriel Cooper told The Observer, "Its creativity. And its positive attitude. And how the teachers are trying to keep the kids Continued on Page Six

We Wish The Dayton Jewish Community A Very Happy Chanukah.

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Hillel

Marshall Weiss

really positive. Because our best advertisement has been word Continued from Page Five of mouth from parents. All of focused and not arguing." the families were Reform. It Integrating Judaics across the just wasn't on their radar. They secular curriculum has been a didn't have anything negahigh priority for the Mecolis, tive about it, it was just they too. "We were naive when we wouldn't think about a Jewish started," Kathy Mecoli said, day school. But their kids are "because everybody said, 'All still here after three years." you have to worry about are Sandy Sloane-Brenner, who academics.' Mostly the Judaics began teaching at Hillel Acadwere in the afternoon and so we emy 50 years ago, has seen more were focused on the morning. changes than anyone there.

Well, we soon learned that we What hasn't changed, she said, would never have the school we is that children love learning wanted if we didn't integrate about Judaism. those two."

"They love the Torah porCurrent fourth grader Gabriel CooThat, she said is the biggest tions, they embrace davening per with Co-Principal Kathy Mecoli strength of Hillel, and comes (praying)," she said. "It brings Fathers, is: Who is wise? One through the expertise of longjoy to my heart that they want who learns from everyone. time Hillel teachers, Rabbi to continue to learn Judaism She said the school makes an and they ask a lot of questions Levi Simon, who has served as effort to welcome people across about it. My goal is for them Hillel's director of Judaics for all streams of Jewish life.

12 years, and primary grade to embrace who they are. And "We invite every rabbi, and Judaics teacher Sandy Sloaneit hasn't changed. I don't feel every rabbi comes through to be I'm teaching a course. I feel I'm Brenner, who holds Hillel's here for a Rosh Chodesh record as its teaching a lifestyle." (new month) luncheon. longest-serving Andy Schwartz They're presenting teacher. has been president of something each month.

"They are an Hillel for a decade.

They see that we're a essential part of When asked how big tent and that evthe success of the Hillel has made it eryone is participating school," Mecoli to 60, he answered, from the community. said. "They mod"Evolving with the "We probably have Sandy Sloaneel Jewish values times. We've evolved for students and Rabbi Levi Simon more Reform children Brennner as the needs of the than Orthodox but staff alike." community have Each year, Hillel selects a dif- everybody's under the same changed. We get good feedback tent. We're instilling in our kids from parents when kids go to ferent theme based on a Jewish that you maintain your identity. another school after Hillel. We value.

You're proud of your identity.

"It permeates everything we try to respect everyone's differBut you also reach out to meet do," Mecoli said. This year's ences and try to talk about those theme, drawn from Ethics of the someone where they are." differences. It helps kids see Some families, Mecoli said, the commonalities more than enrolled their children at Hillel the differences. It makes a huge during the pandemic because difference if they see the Jewthey heard the school remained ish community as one people open and was careful about versus different segments. And mask usage. that's really wonderful. We are "They have frankly said they thankful for all the teachers who would not have considered it. have helped make Hillel a speThey're still here. That has been cial place in our community."

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Hillel Academy

Hillel's eighth-grade class in 1974. Seated (L to R): Don Bialer, Sonny Saeks, Aaron Wahrman. Standing (L to R): Jeffrey Jacobson, Ellie Czigler, Loren Weil, Bob Kreitman

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

Happy Chanukah.

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THE REGION

DOWNTOWN

Jingle Lights November 25 - January 1 See downtown streets transformed into an interactive, drive-thru light show, choreographed to the beat of your favorite holiday tunes! Tune your radio to 105.3 FM as you drive the route.

Downtown's the place for holiday fun!

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Dayton Holiday Festival and make more holiday memories this year!

You’ll find tons of holiday activities for the family now through December at:

DaytonHolidayFestival.org PAGE 8

Felony charges against 3 Miami U. students who vandalized Hillel's sukkah lowered to criminal damage Oxford Police Dept.

The Oxford Police Department charged Miami University Students (L to R) Kevin J. Ladriere, Eli W. Lauger, and Santiago Arenas with felony for vandalizing Miami University Hillel's sukkah on Oct. 15

Oxford Police Department: 'No religious bias involved'

By Marshall Weiss, The Observer Three Miami University students who turned themselves in six days after vandalizing Hillel at Miami's sukkah had their felony charges dropped down and were convicted of criminal damages, a second-degree misdemeanor, in Butler County Court on Nov. 17.

Butler County Area I Judge Robert H. Lyons fined each of the students $750 (a third of the cost of the damaged sukkah), court fees, and ordered them to stay away from the Hillel location. The judge also suspended each of their 90-day jail sentences.

On Oct. 21, the Hillel released security video of the three — Santiago Arenas, 19; Kevin J. Ladriere, 20; and Eli W. Lauger, 20 — intentionally overturning its sukkah just before 2 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15.

Hours after the Hillel distributed the security video via email and social media, and minutes before Hillel's Family Weekend Shabbat Friday night dinner was about to begin, the three returned to the Hillel building and admitted to perpetrating the act.

"We were welcoming families and one of my student leaders walked out and said, 'So there's three guys upstairs. They look remarkably like the three guys from the video. They look really scared. They asked to talk to the manager,'" Whitney Fisch, Hillel at Miami's executive director, told The Observer.

"They apologized, they swore up and down they didn't know we were a Jewish organization and they didn't know what it was," Fisch said. "It felt very much like they were just very terrified of going to jail, getting kicked out of school, all of the above. They wanted me to fix it and take away their fear and take away their anxiety. And I can't do that. There was no thought process. It was their anxiety making all their decisions for them."

During the five-minute conversation, she obtained their names, phone numbers, and email addresses, and

forwarded the information to the Oxford Police Department and administrators at Miami University who were running the school's investigation into the incident.

Fisch said she didn't have to press charges since the incident was caught on security video.

The three students asked Fisch if they could "volunteer to make up for it." She told them, "We can get there, we're not there yet. I need you to know that violence toward any minority or vulnerable community in southwest Ohio, it lands harder. It hurts deeper. So that's where we're coming from."

The Oxford Police Department released a statement Oct. 27 that it had charged Arenas, Ladriere, and Lauger each with a felony, and that its investigation had determined "there was no religious bias involved with the commission of the crime."

Oxford Police Chief John Jones told The Observer his department was not able "to find any evidence that those offenders violated the ethnic intimidation law in Ohio."

"They brought these kids in, they did in-depth interviews with them, they looked at their background, they looked at their social media, and then looked at the types of crimes that occur in that area," he said.

The Hillel building, at 11 E. Walnut St., is situated off campus, in Oxford.

The rear of the building — where Arenas, Ladriere, and Lauger jumped Hillel's fence and overturned its sukkah — is adjacent to a commonly traveled alley, Jones said.

"It's a very high-traffic alley. And they were walking home from a party. That's the evidence that's presenting itself and we've got nothing to contradict it."

In the security video, one of the vandals is seen wearing lederhosen, traditional German short leather breeches.

"He was at a costume party that was German-themed, the Oktoberfest stuff," Jones said. "Officers had actually seen people out in that type of costume that night. That caught my eye as adding insult to injury."

The police chief described the sukkah

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

THE REGION vandalism as "essentially run-of-the mill Fisch, the Hillel welcomed more than property damage" that happens often in 100 people from across the MU commuOxford. nity for its Shabbat of Love and Honor "I don't think people realize the vanin partnership with MU's Office for dalism and the thefts and the property Institutional Diversity and Inclusion. damage we have in this square-mile Hours after the Oxford Police Departarea," Jones said. He added that the ment posted the names of the students rabbi with the Chabad in Oxford who charged with vandalizing the sukkah serves MU's Jewish students on Oct. 27, Miami University talked with Jones because a released a statement that “we menorah was stolen from his empathize with the Jewish comporch. munity at the distress the inci"He's very familiar with dent caused,” and that “We do the community and he agreed hope that OPD’s actions today this was not a hate crime," the bring a level of peace and that police chief said of Chabad's the healing process can begin.” rabbi. "He's been the victim of A spokesperson for the unidifferent things like that, just versity confirmed that Arenas, based on where his house is.

Ladriere, and Lauger are still MU Hillel Exec. Dir. "I've caught kids doing students at Miami University.

Whitney Fisch stuff to churches. We need to Fisch said there's massive do a better job on our alcohol relief among MU's approximately 1,000 enforcement here. But because of their Jewish students. "We're not sitting here ignorance, they did it to a religious today wondering who did this," she organization (Hillel) and didn't undersaid. "Of course, it's traumatic." stand the impact it was going to have on And then on Nov. 11, The Miami the community."

Student newspaper reported that MU Fisch accepts the possibility that since announced it found drawings of SwasHillel's building isn't clearly identifiable tikas in permanent ink in the third-floor from the alleyway, the students may bathroom of the psychology building, not have known they were deliberately and antisemitic posters in several locavandalizing a Jewish item on a Jewish tions on the campus. The Miami Student property. also reported that Hillel wasn't aware "I'm going to give them this one," she of the incidents until the newspaper resaid. "Our building looks like a bank." quested an interview with its president, A week after the three confessed to Lauren Somers.

"If we're trying to represent the Jewish students, we need to know what's going on,” Somers told The Miami Student. “And we should be one of the first people that the university is contacting about antisemitism."

Now in her third year at Hillel at Miami, Fisch said her students have experienced antisemitism at MU before this year's incidents.

"Our (Jewish) students come from everywhere," she said. "The majority of Miami students come from small towns in Ohio, and what we hear from students is in two camps. One is the anti-Israel camp: Students of ours will go on Birthright, they'll post a picture, and then they'll just see it get blasted in social media. 'You're a Palestinian baby killer, you're a White colonialist. FU.' "And the other side of it is they'll get a roommate who has never met a Jew in their life, and that roommate will say, 'Oh my god, you're nice. Where are your horns?' They're not being silly. They genuinely, truly believe that their Jewish roommate is going to have horns.

Or 'So, you're really rich, right? Oh my God, you own all of Hollywood.' Really classic antisemitism."

Fisch said that last year, a registered MU student organization drafted a constitution that included an anti-Zionism clause. "They were a diverse registered student organization that had inclusion as their mission — unless you identified

as a Zionist. (If so,) You were not allowed to be part of their organization."

Hillel, she said, empowered its student leaders to navigate the situation quietly. The student group cut the antiZionist clause from its constitution.

"Through student leadership, working with that organization's student leadership and their faculty advisor, they were very successful," Fisch said.

"Administratively, it was kind of a roadblock. We were nervous: How's Miami going to respond to the sukkah thing?

But it's been nothing but support."

She noted that at the Shabbat of Love and Honor, MU Vice President for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion Cristina Alcalde publicly announced the university has committed to participate in Hillel International's Campus Climate Initiative next year.

"It's an entire initiative involving a deep dive into how hospitable or inhospitable the campus is to Jewish students," Fisch said. "That is a major commitment."

Fisch and Hillel at Miami's board chair brought up the initiative when they met with MU President Gregory P. Crawford in August.

"Miami University is absolutely completely a wonderful place for Jewish student life," Fisch said, "and I hope that community members are involved in our Jewish joy as vigorously as they are involved in our trauma."

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OSU leadership: ‘No room for hate in our home’

equity. ernment, chair of Anyone who is the senate council subject to or witnesson student affairs, es acts of intimidaand secretary of the tion or threats was university senate. urged to notify the “The university school’s department is where we work of public safety or and live – and we call the police at 911. will not tolerate The school also violations of the offered counseling values, principles, and behaviors OSU President Kristina for anyone who was subjected to or witthat constitute the M. Johnson nessed such actions.

Shared Values we “Our values demand that we agree to uphold when we besupport our fellow Buckeyes at come part of Ohio State.” all times, particularly during The letter comes amid inthe most challenging mocreasing incidents of antisemiments,” the letter said. tism and racism on campus, Students should contact the including just a few days ago, office of student life’s counselthe letter said. ing and consultation service.

“This past weekend, an School employees should acescalation occurred as vancess resources through OSU’s dalism in the form of hateful employee assistance program. graffiti, including anti-Black “We understand that diverand antisemitic phrases, was sity and inclusion are essential found in an academic building on the Columbus campus,” the components of our excellence,” the letter said. “We are letter said.

2313 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood dedicated to attending to the The letter urged anyone who 937-293-1196 well-being of individuals and witnesses such acts to immewww.oakwoodflorist.com family owned and operated communities. We take seridiately report it to the unimilitary discount ously our commitment to act versity’s office of institutional responsibly and be accountable for our words and actions.”

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By Stephen Langel Columbus Jewish News Ohio State University President Kristina M. Johnson and other members of the university administration and student government roundly rejected antisemitism and racism in a Nov. 15 letter sent to students, faculty, and staff.

“There is no room for hate in our home,” the letter, signed

by Johnson and 15 others, said.

The signatories included the co-leaders of the Wexner Medical Center, vice provost for inclusive excellence and various student government leaders, such as the president of the undergraduate student gov-

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THE WORLD

Birthright Israel scales back again, slashing free trips by up to a third

By Andrew Lapin, JTA Birthright Israel is drastically cutting the number of free trips it plans to offer to Jewish young adults, scaling back its operations by up to a third, the organization announced Nov. 21.

The cuts come amid what the organization said is a mix of financial pressures, chiefly inflation and heightened travel expenses in a post-Covid world.

It plans to make added appeals to its top donors but still expects to heavily reduce its Israel trips in 2023 to as few as 23,500 participants, down from 35,000 this year and 45,000 annually pre-pandemic.

“The significant cost increases of our program mean that we will not be able to accommodate as many applicants in the coming years,” Birthright CEO Gidi Mark said in a statement.

However, Birthright’s own fundraising has not been affected. A Birthright spokesperson said the organization actually expects its funding to increase from 2022 to 2023, but that the growth won’t be enough to compensate for the rise in expenses and inflation.

The group has shown other signs lately of scaled-back operations for its free 10-day trips to Israel for Jewish young adults. Earlier this year, Birth-

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right said it would lower the maximum age of participation back to 26, after five years of allowing Jews ages 27 to 32 to enroll. The group’s leadership said at the time that the increased age limit was backfiring by convincing younger Jews to keep delaying their trips. Birthright also merged with Onward Israel, another Israel travel program for young adults, during the pandemic.

The program began in 1999 to encourage greater Israel engagement among younger generations of Jews, and studies commissioned in the two decades since have shown that Jews who participated in Birthright trips were more likely than peers who apContinued on Page 34

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THE WORLD

Peace and Joy

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Romania passes ‘landmark law’ guaranteeing right to kosher slaughter

By Marcel Gascon Barbera, JTA BUCHAREST, Romania — Romanian authorities adopted a law that recognizes and gives specific protection to shechitah, or kosher ritual slaughter of animals, the Conference of European Rabbis said in a statement, hailing the move as a “landmark” example for other countries in Europe.

The new legislation, which the Romanian parliament passed Nov. 15, comes roughly a year after the Court of the European Union upheld the bans of both the Muslim and Jewish traditional methods slaughter of animals for food in two Belgian states.

Jewish leaders and organizations decried the ruling, which the Israeli ambassador in Belgium called “catastrophic and a blow to Jewish life in Europe.”

They have worked to lobby the EU for protections and were heartened in October after the EU convened Muslim and Jewish leaders for the first time to discuss ritual meat production.

“I hope that other leaders across Europe will follow the initiative of the Romanian Parliament, valuing and protecting the continued future of Jewish life on the European continent,” said the president of the Conference of European Rabbis, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, who attended the signing ceremony

in Bucharest. (Goldschmidt was until recently the chief rabbi of Moscow.)

Many European countries ban the slaughter of animals without stunning them first, a move that animal-rights activists say is more humane but which is not permitted under Jewish law.

Many countries grant exceptions for shechitah, according to the Conference of European Rabbis, and Romania had previously allowed such an exception.

But the new law enshrines the right to shechitah more formally.

Animal rights activists historically were most vehement advocates of the bans, but in recent years, European anti-immigration right-wing parties have joined the campaigns against ritual slaughter, mostly due to their opposition to Muslim immigrants.

In the rest of the EU, ritual slaughter is illegal in countries like Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Slovenia and parts of Belgium. The Netherlands and Poland joined the list years ago but later reversed the bans.

Silviu Vexler, president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania and the Jewish minority’s representative in Romania’s parliament, was present at the bill-signing. He called the law “a shining symbol to other countries throughout the world.”

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THE WORLD

difficult decision. “I can assure you that

By Ron Kampeas, JTA wasn’t a simple decision to go to the LAS VEGAS — Benjamin Netanyajoint session of Congress and challenge hu’s acceptance of a Republican invitathe the policy of a sitting president, tion to speak to Congress in 2015 to whom I respected but I disagree with,” decry the Obama administration’s Iran he said. He said the Iran nuclear deal policy notoriously helped bring about President Barack Obama was negotiata rupture between the once and future ing endangered Israel. The deal cleared Israeli prime minister and Democrats.

Congress despite Netanyahu’s speech.

Now Netanyahu says the decision “I made that decision because I helped cement secret ties with Arab believe that...this agreement countries that led five years endangered the very existence later to the Abraham Accords, of the State of Israel,” he said. the 2020 agreements brokered Netanyahu said he was relieved by the Trump administration when Obama’s successor, that normalized ties between Trump, pulled the United States Israel and four Arab countries. out of the deal in 2018. “I was “We got phone calls in real tremendously fortunate to have time from Gulf States, who were finally an American administrasaying we cannot believe what tion under President Trump your prime minister is doing, Benjamin who agreed with this policy,” and he’s facing, admittedly, a Netanyahu Netanyahu said. great leader, the most powerful Netanyahu said in the talk that he man in the world, the American presiwas close to President Joe Biden, saying dent, but if he’s willing to do that, we’d that they had “an easy relationship, a like to cement the ties a lot further, and friendship” dating back to 1982 when that led to the secret meetings. between Netanyahu was deputy chief of mission myself in 2015 and Gulf leaders,” Neat the Israeli embassy in Washington tanyahu said Nov. 19. “That led to the and Biden was a senator from Delaware. laying the foundations for the Abraham He also praised Obama for setting U.S. Accords.” defense assistance at $3.8 billion a year.

Netanyahu was speaking about the benefits of one speech seemed designed to inflame partisan tensions in the United States during another talk to a partisan U.S. audience, addressing the annual Republican Jewish Coalition conference. His speech, delivered via video from Israel, made him the first Israeli prime minister, elected or otherwise, to address a partisan Jewish group in the United States.

Netanyahu said he could not describe the contacts from the Gulf States further.

Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s sonin-law and special advisor, wrote in his book that Netanyahu came close to derailing the deals multiple times.

The Republican speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015, John Boehner, who invited Netanyahu, broke protocol by keeping the invitation secret until the last minute from the White House and from Democrats in Congress. Netanyahu and his ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer, agreed to keep the secret until Boehner issued the formal invitation.

Keeping Boehner’s secret led to a perception among Democrats that Netanyahu was playing partisan politics and was a major factor in Democratic disaffection with Netanyahu, from which he has never fully recovered. The Israeli government that ended Netanyahu’s 12-year stint in office last year, led

by Naftali Bennet and Yair Lapid, had as a central platform repairing ties with Democrats. Netanyahu was reelected in Nov. 1 elections and will soon form a government. He told the RJC it was a

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THE WORLD

As Kyrie Irving offers ‘deep apologies’ & returns to Nets, Black Hebrew Israelites rally in Brooklyn Dustin Satloff/Getty Images

By Jacob Gurvis, JTA Kyrie Irving returned Nov. 20 from an eight-game suspension after again apologizing for promoting an antisemitic film on Twitter.

“I just want to offer my deep apologies to all those who were impacted over these last few weeks, specifically my Jewish relatives, my Black relatives, all races and cultures,” Irving said prior to the Nov. 20 game between his Brooklyn Nets and the Memphis Grizzlies.

“Feel like we all felt an impact and I don’t stand for anything close to hate speech or antisemitism or anything that is ‘anti,’ going against the human race.”

Irving also seemed to reflect on the way he handled the now monthlong saga, which included his repeated refusal to apologize for his tweet and his insistence that he “cannot be antisemitic.”

Irving continued: “I feel like we all should have an opportunity to speak

for ourselves when things are assumed about us and I feel it was necessary for me to stand in this place and take accountability for my actions, Kyrie Irving because there was a way I should have handled all this and as I look back and reflect when I had the opportunity to offer my deep regrets to anyone that felt threatened or felt hurt by what I posted, that wasn’t my intent at all.”

Irving had ultimately apologized Nov. 3, hours after his suspension was announced. “To All Jewish families and Communities that are hurt and affected from my post, I am deeply sorry to have caused you pain, and I apologize,” Irving wrote in an Instagram post.

Irving also seemed to reflect on the way he handled the now monthlong saga

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

THE WORLD Critics of Kyrie’s decision to tweet a link to the film, Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America, noted that it boosted sales of the film and a related book that promotes the idea that Jews were heavily involved in the Atlantic slave trade, denies the Holocaust, and says Black people are the real Jews.

Followers of a group that ascribes to such theories gathered at the Grand Army Plaza, a half mile from the Nets’ arena Nov. 20, chanting “it’s time to wake up. I’ve got good news for you, we are the real Jews.”

The group included dozens of people from Israel United in Christ, a New York-based group associated with the Black Hebrew Israelite movement.

The movement — not to be confused with the International Israelite Board of Rabbis, which embraces mainstream Jewish beliefs — has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The group then convened directly outside Barclays Center, distributing antisemitic flyers titled The Truth About Anti-Semi-

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Members of the Israel United in Christ hate group gathered outside Barclays Center, Nov. 20

tism and The Truth about Slavery.

When asked about the demonstration after the game, Irving first said he was unaware of what had happened. When given more information by a reporter, Irving declined to comment.

“I think that’s a conversation for another day. I’m just here to

focus on the game,” he said.

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown, who, along with Irving, is a vice president of the NBA Players Association, retweeted a video of the group with the caption “Energy.”

He later clarified that he “was not aware of what specific Continued on Page 16

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PAGE 15

OPINION

Dustin Satloff/Getty Images

Comedians are just as capable of antisemitic incitement as political figures.

So let’s take Dave Chappelle seriously.

By MaNishtana Dave Chappelle delivered a brilliant monologue Nov. 12 on Saturday Night Live addressing the antisemitism controversies surrounding Kanye West and Kyrie Irving.

Unfortunately, brilliant doesn’t inherently mean moral or good. Chappelle’s monologue was a master class in how to normalize and embolden antisemitic discourse, delivered in plain sight and with just Continued from Page 15 enough “wink wink, nudge group” was in the video, and nudge” plausible deniability — was “celebrating the unification mixed in with a sprinkle of real of our people welcoming the commentary — that one would return of Kyrie to the court.” easily almost not realize that...

Irving scored 14 points in 26 wait, did Chappelle denounce minutes in the Nov. 20 game, anything exactly? saying afterward that “it felt He opened the monologue good” to be back. “Now we can by pretending to read from move forward with the rest of the kind of apology being the season,” he added. When demanded of Kanye West, the asked if he planned to file a rapper who in recent weeks had grievance for his suspension, exposed various antisemitic Irving did not directly answer. tropes. “I denounce antisemi“I have some strong people, tism in all its forms, and I stand men and women, around me with my friends in the Jewish that are going to do everything community,” Chappelle read, possible to make sure that mocking the boilerplate apoloI’m protected and my famgies that often arise in these ily’s protected and we protect moments. At face value, it’s a one another, so I’m sure some great piece of satire. But then he things will be done in the fufollows up with the punchline: ture,” Irving said. “There’s no “And that, Kanye, is how you timetable on that right now.” buy yourself some time.”

Irving was suspended for at He isn’t holding West to least five games Nov. 3, days account. He’s clearing the way after he shared the film on and setting the stage for the finTwitter and after considerable est bout of antisemitic dogwhispressure from Jewish groups tling probably ever featured on and others around sports. Nike SNL. also severed ties with Irving.

There is legitimate comThe Nets had laid out a slate mentary to be made about the of “remedial steps” the star often disproportionate and point guard would need to racialized vitriol directed at take in order to be reinstated.

Black Americans who engage Among them was meeting with in antisemitism, coming from a Jewish leaders, including the society that revels in Black pain Anti-Defamation League, which and punishment. Jews of color, has been advising the Nets and especially Black Jews like throughout the controversy. me, have been addressing this According to NBC News, reality across social media for the Nets praised Irving for his decades, noting the lack of inactions since the suspension. tensity and accountability when “Kyrie took ownership of this the shoe is on the other foot — journey and had conversations when Jewish figures espouse with several members of the anti-blackness.

Jewish community,” the team But this monologue by a said in a statement. “We are Black comedian is making no pleased that he is going about such argument. And it comes as the process in a meaningful more bold and brazen bad-faith way.” actors are acting out in more

Irving

So, what do you think?

PAGE 16

and more violent ways. Comedians are just as capable of incitement as political figures.

Chappelle is wildly adept at structuring complex jokes.

For years, he deftly delivered biting, raw, and real socio-racial commentary, from his standup routines to The Chappelle Show, and since the 2000s has positioned himself as an astute teller of hard truths. If you doubt the man’s intelligence, watch what he does late in the SNL routine when he talks about Donald Trump.

With backhanded praise, Chappelle attributes Trump’s popularity and appeal to his skill at being an “honest liar.”

Never before, said Chappelle, had voters seen a billionaire “come from inside the house and tell the commoners, ‘Inside that house we’re doing everything you think we’re doing.’ And then MaNishtana he went right back inside the house and started playing the game again.”

Chappelle took notes on Trump’s knack for saying exactly what he means and telling people exactly what he planned to do.

When Chappelle says there are two words you should never say together — “the” and “Jews” — he’s not speaking against antisemitic conspiracy theories that treat Jews as a scheming monolith. He’s insinuating instead that there is a “The Jews” that should never be challenged. (Chappelle goes on to repeatedly use the phrase “The Jews” in his monologue.)

The one time he uses “the Jewish community” is to introduce the straw man argument that Black Americans should not be blamed for the terrible things that have happened to “the Jewish community” all over the world — a declaration so baffling that only one person in the audience responds.

After all, no one was blaming West or Irving, the NBA star who shared on Twitter a link to a wildly antisemitic film, for the terrible things that happened to Jews. They were just being asked not to promote the ideas

of people who had done those terrible things.

Also on full display is Chappelle’s deft, almost 1984-esque doublespeak. Chappelle notes that when he first saw the controversy building around West’s antisemitism, he thought “Let me see what’s going to happen first” — a strange and telling equivocation. Chappelle diminishes the significance of the film shared by Irving, Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America, by describing it as “apparently having some antisemitic tropes or something,” but then jokes that Irving probably doesn’t think the JTA-Gili Getz Holocaust happened — a trope presented in said movie.

Chappelle is reluctant to call Kanye “crazy” but acknowledges he is “possibly not well,” but has no problem referring to Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker as “observably stupid.”

Ultimately and persistently, Chappelle suggests that Kanye erred not in being antisemitic, but in being antisemitic out loud.

Most insidious in this regard was his seeming rejection of the notion, promoted by West, that Jews control Hollywood. Said Chappelle: “It’s a lot of Jews (in Hollywood). Like a lot. But that doesn’t mean anything, you know what I mean? There’s a lot of Black people in Ferguson, Missouri. It doesn’t mean we run the place.” He refers to the idea that Jews control Hollywood as a "delusion.”

And then, rather than let this necessary distinction set in, he undercuts it, saying, “It’s not a crazy thing to think. But it’s a crazy thing to say out loud in a climate like this.”

The problem, Chappelle is suggesting, is not harboring dangerous delusions, but saying them in public and risking being called on it. The “climate” is not one of dangerous antisemitism, but the danger of speaking one’s mind.

Chappelle telegraphed this sentiment with an earlier quip: West, he said “had broken

the show business rules. You know, the rules of perception. If they’re Black, then it’s a gang. If they’re Italian, it’s a mob, but if they’re Jewish, it’s a coincidence and you should never speak about it.”

The “perception” is that only Jews can’t be spoken of in derogatory terms. Kanye wasn’t wrong for thinking antisemitic thoughts, Chappelle suggests, but, again, speaking about them.

There are lots of jokes made in Hollywood at the expense of Jews. This, however, was not a case of Jews being unable to laugh at ourselves. There’s a difference between laughing at ourselves and having someone who isn’t Jewish use “wink wink” antisemitic tropes.

It’s not that Chappelle’s monologue wasn’t funny on its face, it’s that it was harmful.

This isn’t happening in a vacuum: It’s happening in a specific context, particularly one in which antisemitism has already been riled up and emboldened

by Kanye and Irving. (Hebrews to Negroes became a bestseller on Amazon after Irving tweeted about it.)

It just takes the wrong kind of person to hear this monologue for us to experience, God forbid, another Tree of Life shooting.

I didn’t particularly relish the wake of the first shooting when, as the rabbi of a congregation in Rockland County, N.Y., I met with county officials, negotiated police presences, and discussed mass-shooter evasion tactics to ensure the safety of my congregants.

For anyone who thinks Chappelle’s monologue was “just jokes” or that I am reading too much into it, consider his last line — a bravura complaint about cancel culture and the unspoken forces behind it: “I’ll be honest with you. I’m getting sick of talking to a crowd like this. I love you to death and I thank you for your support.

And I hope they don’t take anything away from me. (ominous voice) Whoever ‘they’ are.”

MaNishtana is the pen name of Shais Rishon, an African American Orthodox rabbi, activist, speaker, and writer. His current project is B'Esh Sh'chorah/In Black Fire: A Commentary and Anthology on the Torah.

Views expressed by columnists, in readers’ letters, and in opinion Send letters (350 words max.) to The Dayton Jewish Observer, pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinion of staff or layleaders of 525 Versailles Dr., Dayton, OH 45459 • MWeiss@jfgd.net The Dayton Jewish Observer or the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

December JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

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UPCOMING EVENTS Connect with us! Check out our events. For more information, see our calendar at jewishdayton.org.

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Saturday, December 3, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. PJ Library and Chabad Havdalah Glow, Games and Star Gaze Sunday, December 4, 2:00 p.m. CABS: Tom Dugan

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Thursday, December 15, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. – Chanukah Luncheon Sunday, December 18, 6:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. – JCC Chanukah on Ice

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Thursday, December 22, 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. – Winter Camp Shalom Begins Monday, December 26, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. – JFS Mitzvah Mission

mitzvah

mission

Join us for mitzvot for all ages!

BACK IN

PERSON!

Monday, December 26, 2022 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

The Boonshoft CJCE 525 Versailles Dr., Dayton, OH 45459

Have fun with friends old and new while making scarves, no-sew rag dolls, and sack lunches for the guests at St. Vincent de Paul’s shelters. Light noshes will be served.

JFS is collecting donations of new children’s winter hats in coordination with Crayons to Classrooms for those in need across the Miami Valley. If you have any questions, please call Jacquelyn Archie, 937-610-1555.

No cost. RSVP at jewishdayton.org or call 937-610-1555.

Jewish Family Services of Greater Dayton THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

PAGE 17

December JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

CHANUKAH

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18 6:15 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. South Metro Sports (an indoor facility)

10561 Success Lane Centerville, OH 45458 Come celebrate the first night of Chanukah with the community! We will light the menorah together and enjoy that special Chanukah treat - sufganiyot (donuts). There will be plenty of exciting activities including ice skating, basketball, volleyball, ping-pong, pickleball and cornhole.

Come dressed to skate and play! The snack bar at South Metro Sports will be open for additional food and drink sales. $12 adult / $8 child ages 4-12 Free 3 and under RSVP by Thursday, December 15 at jewishdayton.org/events. The first 50 families to RSVP will receive a Chanukah gift bag!

Thursday, December 15 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Join the JCC, Jewish War Veterans and Hadassah to celebrate Chanukah! There will be Chanukah songs, trivia, and sharing of family stories. $18.00 includes entertainment and kosher lunch: fresh salad with dressing, tuna salad, egg salad, potato latkes, sour cream and applesauce, bagels, cream cheese, fresh fruit salad, donuts, coffee, and tea.

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Participants will be required to sign a Covid waiver to attend the event. Register online at jewishdayton.org/events Questions? Contact Marc Jacob at 937-610-1555 or at mjacob@jfgd.net.

Jewish Community Center OF GREATER DAYTON

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

December JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

Thursday, December 1, 7:00 p.m.

Join us over the holiday break for camp fun including indoor and outdoor games, field trips, cooking and talent shows!

Livestream at the Wright Library 1776 Far HIlls Ave., Oakwood, OH 45419 Jen Maxfield, “More After the Break; A Reporter Returns to Ten Unforgettable News Stories”

Sunday, December 4, 2:00 p.m.

GRADES K-10 OPTIONAL ADD ONS:

Boonshoft CJCE 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville, OH 45459 Cost: $5 adults, students free Tom Dugan, “Wiesenthal”

8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Rise & Shine

Wednesday, January 18, 2023, 7:00 p.m.

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Camp hours

4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Stay & Play

December 22 - January 3 (closed Dec. 26 and Jan. 2) January 16 - MLK Day and February 20 - Presidents’ Day Session and daily rates are available Temple Beth Or, 5275 Marshall Rd. 45429 Register at app.campdoc.com/register/jccgreaterdayton For more information contact Meryl Hattenbach at mhattenbach@jfgd.net or 937-401-1550

Livestream at the Woodbourne Library 6060 Far Hills Ave., Centerville, OH 45459 Ronald Balson, “An Affair of Spies”

Sunday, March 5, 7:00 p.m.

Carillon Brewery 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton, OH 45409 Cost: $10 person Dan Grunfeld, “By the Grace of the Game” Go to jewishdayton.org/events to purchase tickets for in-person events or to register for Zoom events. Contact Marc Jacob at 937-610-1555 or at mjacob@jfgd.net.

HAVDALAH GLOW,

GAMES AND STAR GAZE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 6:30 PM - 8:00 p.m.

CHABAD OF GREATER DAYTON

(2001 FAR HILLS AVENUE, OAKWOOD 45419)

FREE!

JCC Maccabi Games Information Session Wednesday, December 7, 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Join Chabad and PJ Library for Havdalah!

Gaze at the stars through telescopes, then head inside for Havdalah blessings, interactive games, and a giant popcorn bar!

Boonshoft CJCE 525 Versailles Dr. Dayton, OH 45459 Join us for pizza and hear about the JCC Maccabi experience for Jewish teen athletes! For more information, please contact Meryl Hattenbach at 937-401-1550 or mhattenbach@jfgd.net.

RSVP by Monday, December 5 at jewishdayton.org/events.

RSVP by Tuesday, November 29.

Questions? Contact Kate Elder at kelder@jfgd.net.

ISRAEL

July 5–25, 2023 for ages 14–17 Baseball Basketball Flag Football Ice Hockey

Soccer Swimming Tennis Volleyball

FT. LAUDERDALE

&

August 6–11, 2023 for ages 12–16 Baseball 3x3 Basketball Basketball Flag Football Ice Hockey

Lacrosse Tennis Soccer Volleyball Swimming Table Tennis Track and Field

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

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December JEWISH FEDERATION of GREATER DAYTON & ITS AGENCIES

Legacies, Tributes, & Memorials TALA ARNOVITZ FUND IN HONOR OF › Matt and Elaine Arnovitz’s first grandchild Joan Isaacson UKRAINE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND IN HONOR OF › Sue Zulanch’s 80th birthday Debby and Bob Goldenberg Ellie and Bob Bernstein IN HONOR OF › Randyll Levine’s 62nd birthday › David Levine’s 26th birthday Saul and Bernice Levine JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER DAYTON ENDOWMENT FUND IN MEMORY OF › Mona Goodman John and Tammy Whitt BETH ABRAHAM FUND IN MEMORY OF › Susan Schear’s sister-in-law Gail and Stuart Weprin JOE BETTMAN MEMORIAL TZADIK AWARD IN MEMORY OF › Richard “Dick” Moyer › Rabbi Sheldon Switkin Todd and Jean Bettman Elaine Bettman

IN MEMORY OF › Maxine Rubin Elaine Bettman IN MEMORY OF › Richard “Rick” Pinsky Todd and Jean Bettman

THE MOYER YOUNG LEADERSHIP AWARD IN MEMORY OF › Richard “Dick” Moyer Mr. & Mrs. Stanley J. Katz Marilyn and Larry Klaben Frank and Cathie Dodson

IN MEMORY OF › Rabbi Shelly Switkin Mel Caplan JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES DISCRETIONARY FUND IN MEMORY OF › Maxine Rubin Jeffrey and Beverly Kantor Susie and Eddie Katz Melinda Doner IN MEMORY OF › Rick Pinsky Jeffrey and Beverly Kantor IN MEMORY OF › Debra Saidel Susan and Joe Gruenberg IN MEMORY OF › Rabbi Shelly Switkin Mark Mitzman

Happy TEMPLE BETH OR

Life&Legacy PAGE 20

JEWISH FAMILY

JEWISH FOUNDATION

SERVICES

of GREATER DAYTON

JOAN AND PETER WELLS AND REBECCA LINVILLE FAMILY, CHILDREN AND YOUTH FUND IN MEMORY OF › Rick Pinsky IN HONOR OF › Al and Lou Levin’s birthday Joan and Peter Wells IN MEMORY OF › Rick Pinsky Barbara Hollander EARLY CHILDHOOD FUND IN MEMORY OF › Richard Moyer Joanie Cleary BEN AND DOROTHY HARLAN CHILDREN’S FUND IN MEMORY OF › Rick Pinsky A SPEEDY RECOVERY TO › Bruce Feldman Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Harlan CAROLE RABINOWITZ CAMP FUND IN MEMORY OF › Fred Weber › Rick Pinksky › Stan Brod Bernard Rabinowitz

JEWISH COMMUNITY

JEWISH FEDERATION

CENTER of GREATER

of GREATER DAYTON

DAYTON

of GREATER DAYTON

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

CALENDAR Classes

Beth Abraham Classes: 10 Mondays, noon, beginning Dec. 5 via Zoom: Kabbalah as Jewish Mystical Experience w.

Rabbi Glazer. RSVP. Saturdays, following noon kiddush lunch: Pilgrimage Through the Psalms w. Rabbi Glazer. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. 937-293-9520.

Beth Jacob Classes: Sundays, 2 p.m.: Conversion Class w.

Rabbi Agar. Tuesdays, 7 p.m.: Weekly Parsha w. Rabbi Agar.

Thursdays, 7 p.m.: Jewish Law w. Rabbi Agar. 7020 N. Main St., Harrison Twp. bethjacobcong. org. 937-274-2149.

Temple Beth Or Adult Classes: Sundays, 12:30 p.m.: Adult Hebrew. Sat., Dec. 3, 10 a.m.: Apocryphal Study w. Rabbi Chessin. Thurs., Dec. 8, 7 p.m.: Chai Mitzvah via Zoom. 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. templebethor.com. 937-435-3400.

Temple Israel Classes: Tuesdays, noon: Talmud Study. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. Wed., Dec. 7, 14, 10 a.m.: Social Justice Torah Commentary w. Rabbi BodneyHalasz. Dorothy Lane Market, Washington Sq., 6177 Far Hills Ave., Wash. Twp. Saturdays,

9:30 a.m., Virtual Torah Study.

Sat., Dec. 10, 9:15 a.m.: Hybrid Torah Study. tidayton.org, 937496-0050.

Children & Teens

JCC Winter Camp Shalom: Dec. 22-Jan. 3. Grades K-10. At Temple Beth Or, 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash Twp. For info., contact Meryl Hattenbach, mhattenbach@jfgd.net, 937-401-1550.

Family

PJ Library & Chabad Havdalah Glow, Games & Star Gaze: Sat., Dec. 3, 6:30 p.m. Free.

At Chabad, 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. RSVP to jewishdayton.org/events. For info, contact Kate Elder, kelder@jfgd.net.

Maccabi Games Informational Meeting: Wed., Dec. 7, 6 p.m.

Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville. RSVP to Meryl Hattenbach, 937-401-1550.

Temple Israel Prayer & Play: Sat., Dec. 17, 4 p.m. At home of Rabbi Sobo. For info., call 937496-0050.

JCC Cultural Arts & Book Series

See Page 19 for schedule.

Community

Beth Abraham Men’s Club Sunday Brunch Speaker Series: Sundays, 10 a.m. $7. Dec. 4: Earlham College Jewish Studies Chair Elliot Ratzman, Zipporah’s Knife: The Ways of Jewish Antiracism. Dec. 11: Dayton VA Psychologist Adam Feiner, Exploring Our Innate Need for Connection.

RSVP. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood. 937-293-9520.

Temple Beth Or Artisan Fair & Brisket Lunch: Sun., Dec. 4, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Preorder brisket to go & lunch at templebethor.com.

5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 937-435-3400.

U.S. & the Holocaust Panel Discussion: Mon., Dec. 5, 7 p.m. Free. Nat'l Museum of the U.S. Air Force, 1100 Spaatz St., Fairborn. Registration required at thinktv.org/USATH-Event.

Temple Israel Ryterband Brunch & Lecture Series: Sun., Dec. 11, 9:45 a.m. $7. Faheem Dawud Curtis-Khidr, Intersectionality of Jewish History and Other Groups within Inner-City Dayton. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton. 937-496-0050.

JCRC Volunteer @ The Foodbank: Wed., Dec. 21, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. 56 Armor Pl., Dayton. Sign up at jewishdayton.org/events.

Jewish Family Services Mitzvah Mission: Mon., Dec. 26, 10 a.m. Make scarves, no-sew rag dolls & sack lunches for St. Vincent de Paul shelters. Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville. For info., call Jacquelyn Archie, 937-610-1555.

Chanukah

Temple Israel Religious School Chanukah Happening: Sun., Dec. 11, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Lunch for purchase. RSVP to educator@ tidayton.org by Dec. 5. 130 Riverside Dr., Dayton.

Chabad CKids Tie-Dye Chanukah: Sun., Dec. 11, 4 p.m. Free.

For kids 5-11. W. dinner. RSVP to rabbilevi@chabaddayton.com.

2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood.

JCC, Jewish War Veterans & Hadassah Chanukah Luncheon: Thurs., Dec. 15, 11:30 a.m. $18. Boonshoft CJCE, 525 Versailles Dr., Centerville. RSVP to jewishdayton.org/events or 937-610-1555.

Temple Beth Or Chanukah Party: Sun., Dec. 18, noon.

Food trucks. 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 937-435-3400. templebethor.com.

JCC Chanukah on Ice: Sun., Dec. 18, 6:15 p.m. Children 3 & under free, Children 4-12 $8, Adults $12. South Metro Sports, 10561 Success Ln., Centerville.

RSVP jewishdayton.org/events.

Chabad Grand Chanukah Community Event: Tues., Dec. 20, 6 p.m. 2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood. RSVP chabaddayton. com. 937-643-0770.

Chabad Women’s Circle Chanukah Party & Craft Night: Thurs., Dec. 22, 6 p.m. $36.

RSVP to dlmdayton@gmail.com.

2001 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood.

Beth Jacob Chanukah Program: Sat., Dec. 24, 7 p.m. Free.

RSVP by Dec. 23, bethjacob1@ aol.com. 7020 N. Main St., Harrison Twp. 937-274-2149.

Beth Abraham Synagogue Wok N' Roll Chanukah Dinner: Sun., Dec. 25, 5-7 p.m. Adults $10, Children $7. RSVP by Dec. 19 to 937-293-9520. 305 Sugar Camp Cir., Oakwood.

Save the Date Saturday, April 1, 2023

Enjoy ArtsGala for yourself!

• Funding scholarships for students in art, dance, motion pictures, music, and theatre.

• Up-close entertainment from these talented students—a cruise ship on land!

• Drinking and dining experiences abound, from hors d’oeuvres, to sit-down dinner, to buffets, to desserts.

• A silent auction with one-of-a-kind activities, trips, and items you can’t get anywhere else.

wright.edu/ArtsGala

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

PAGE 21

‘I don’t want our cemeteries to be like the cemeteries of Europe.’ — Helen Ostreicher Halcomb

RELIGION

CONGREGATIONS

U.S. Postal Service unveils Chanukah forever stamp in Ohio

Beth Abraham Synagogue

Conservative Rabbi Aubrey L. Glazer Cantor/Dir. of Ed. & Programming Andrea Raizen Fridays, Dec. 2, 9, 16, 5 p.m.

Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.

305 Sugar Camp Circle, Oakwood. 937-293-9520. bethabrahamdayton.org

Beth Jacob Congregation

Traditional Rabbi Leibel Agar Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. Evening minyans upon request.

7020 N. Main St., Dayton.

937-274-2149. bethjacobcong.org

Temple Anshe Emeth

Reform Sat., Dec. 17, 10 a.m. w. Rabbinic Intern Anna Burke 320 Caldwell St., Piqua.

Contact Steve Shuchat, 937-7262116, ansheemeth@gmail.com. ansheemeth.org

A

s a child of a Holocaust survivor, Helen Ostreicher Halcomb always thought about the millions of European Jews who weren’t afforded a proper funeral or burial. It compelled her to dedicate her life to preparing people for their eternal rest and protecting our cemeteries for generations to come.

Even without having anyone buried in one of our local Jewish cemeteries, Helen got involved with the Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Dayton campaign because she believed we needed to take care of our own. “I saw the need, not only in Dayton, but throughout the country in other small Jewish communities. It’s wonderful that Dayton is being proactive and preparing for our future,” said Helen.

“The thought that our cemeteries would go unattended was frightening,” continued Helen.

“I wanted to guarantee that I’ve done all that I could to help people find their perfect peace.”

Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Dayton is an endowment organization created to maintain our three Jewish cemeteries in perpetuity.

Please join us as we strive to maintain the sanctity, care, and integrity of these sacred burial grounds.

Preserving our Past Ensuring Our Future

daytonjewishcemeteries.org 525 Versailles Drive • Centerville, OH 45459 PAGE 22

Temple Beth Or Jeanette Kuvin Oren presents her Hanukkah Forever postage stamp at Temple Emanu El in Orange Village, Ohio, Oct. 20

By Howard Blas, JNS American Judaica artist Jeanette Kuvin Oren is well-known for her work in many media. She designs Torah mantles, ark curtains, wedding canopies, marriage contracts, papercuts, stained glass, and nearly any ritual object or decoration a synagogue, Jewish home or family would ever need.

On Oct. 20, Kuvin Oren added “designer of a U.S. Postal Service stamp” to her impressive résumé.

The Hanukkah Forever postage stamp is based on one of Kuvin Oren’s works.

“Jeanette’s art came to my attention several years ago and I am very happy to be able to bring her work to a very wide audience,” Ethel Kessler of Kessler Design, who serves as art director for stamps at the USPS, said. “Her work has a glowing and joyful spirit and that’s what I wanted to add to our U.S. Chanukah series.”

A first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony for the stamp was held Oct. 20 at Temple Emanu El in Orange Village, an eastern suburb of Cleveland. This year, Chanukah begins on the evening of Dec. 18.

“Stamps are a joy for me to art direct," Kessler added. "What it entails is getting familiar with people across the country who are making interesting art that can be used at stamp size.”

According to the USPS, “The stamp art features the design from an original wall-hanging. The fiber art was hand-dyed, appliquéed and quilted to form an abstract image of a Chanukiah (Chanukah menorah).”

The stamp is being issued in panes of 20. It will always be equal in value to the current First Class Mail oneounce price (currently 60 cents).

“First class mail may have dropped off in the past decade," Kessler said. "But we still print over 10 million Chanukah celebration stamps.”

Kuvin Oren has now received an education in stamp collecting and stamp releases. She said the firstday-of-issue dedication ceremony took place in Cleveland because the USPS wanted it to be in the Midwest.

And Emanu El was enthusiastic to host.

She has also learned that the stamp date and location will appear on every 63/4-inch envelope with the state and date of issue and location. Stamp collectors traditionally go to the post office to buy new stamps, put them on a white blank envelope, and mail them for a first-day-of-issue cancellation. These are known as first-day covers. Many aficionados also collect cachets, an illustration usually on the left side of the envelope.

“The USPS doesn’t create a cachet so it is up to the artist or a dealer to create one. It is a nice souvenir for the first day of issue, so I created my own,” Kuvin Oren said.

She lives in Woodbridge, Conn. and Jerusalem. “I sent a piece 30 years ago to the USPS and always had a dream of being on a stamp— this is the culmination of a lifelong dream," Kuvin Oren says. "I am very honored and it is very emotional to see my artwork there. It is something Continued on Page 23

'This is the culmination of a lifelong dream.'

Reform Fridays, 6:30 p.m.

Rabbi Judy Chessin Asst. Rabbi/Educator Ben Azriel 5275 Marshall Rd., Wash. Twp. 937-435-3400. templebethor.com

Temple Beth Sholom

Reform Rabbi Haviva Horvitz 610 Gladys Dr., Middletown.

513-422-8313. templebethsholom.net

Temple Israel

Reform Senior Rabbi Karen BodneyHalasz. Rabbi/Educator Tina Sobo Fri., Dec. 2, 6 p.m.

Fridays, Dec. 9, 16, 23, 30, 6:30 p.m. Sat., Dec. 10, 10:30 a.m.

130 Riverside Dr., Dayton.

937-496-0050. tidayton.org

Temple Sholom

Reform Rabbi Cary Kozberg 2424 N. Limestone St., Springfield. 937-399-1231. templesholomoh.com

ADDITIONAL SERVICES Chabad of Greater Dayton

Rabbi Nochum Mangel Associate Rabbi Shmuel Klatzkin Youth & Prog. Dir. Rabbi Levi Simon. Beginner educational service Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. 2001 Far Hills Ave. 937-643-0770. chabaddayton.com

Yellow Springs Havurah

Independent Antioch College Rockford Chapel.

Contact Len Kramer, 937-5724840 or len2654@gmail.com.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

RELIGION Continued from Page 22 so historical.”

Kuvin Oren explains that a small wall hanging of her stamp will hang in the National Postal Museum in Washington. “It will be Chanukah forever!”

The artist, a graduate of Princeton and Yale universities, has also completed a master’s degree in public health and most of her doctorate in epidemiology.

Since deciding in 1984 to work on commissioned art and graphic design full time, she has created installation pieces for more than 400 houses of worship, schools, community centers, and camps worldwide.

She specializes in large installations of glass, mosaic, metal, fiber art, calligraphy, paper-cutting, and painting. Her

Torah covers, ark covers, ark curtains and wall hangings may be seen in homes and Jewish institutions around the world.

Kuvin Oren shares with great excitement a donor recognition art wall project she recently worked on for a synagogue in Miami. She has also shared her talents close to home—at her synagogue, Congregation B’nai Jacob in Woodbridge. During the Covid pandemic, she helped create a video of departed members of the synagogue; the faces of each person were incorporated into the video, which was shown as part of the Yizkor memorial service.

Kuvin Oren plans to use the Chanukah postage stamps on the invitations to the wedding of one of her daughters, which will take place in March 2023.

Beth Abraham, Dayton’s only Conservative synagogue, is enthusiastically egalitarian and is affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

For a complete schedule of our programs, go to bethabrahamdayton.org.

Wok N’ Roll

Hanukkah Dinner

Temple Israel launches support group for new Jews by choice Temple Israel invites those in the Miami Valley who are new Jews by choice to join its new support group, New-ish to Being Jewish. It's also open to those who would like to learn more about Jewish customs and traditions.

New-ish to Being Jewish is led by Temple Israel congregant Tom Bainbridge and the temple's adult education committee. Its first program, Making Chanukah Happen, was held Nov. 16.

"It takes a long time for someone to become fully comfortable with Jewish tradition and culture, especially for someone raised in another faith," Temple Israel Senior Rabbi Karen

Bodney-Halasz noted.

"This series of discussions will support a wide range of community members: those who are curious about Judaism, returning to Judaism, converting to Judaism, raising Jewish children, or sharing Judaism with loved ones," she added. "Our upcoming 'how-to' classes will serve as an introduction to the celebration of Jewish life and provide support and guidance for those in interfaith relationships."

For information about attending upcoming events, contact Bainbridge at 937-620-4466 or thomasbainbridge5751@gmail.com.

December

Torah Portions

Kislev/Tevet

Shabbat Candle Lightings December 2, 4:55 p.m.

December 9, 4:54 p.m.

December 16, 4:55 p.m.

December 23, 4:59 p.m.

December 30, 5:03 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 25, 5-7 p.m.

Kosher Chinese Dinner • $10 adults/$7 children Fun & Games for all!

Bring your menorah & candles for the 8th night RSVP by Dec. 19 to 937-293-9520.

Sunday Brunch Speaker Series Sponsored by Men’s Club 10 a.m. • $7 • RSVP to 937-293-9520

Dec. 4: Elliot Ratzman

Chair in Jewish Studies, Earlham College Zipporah’s Knife - Jewish Ways of Antiracism

December 3: Vayetze (Gen. 28:10-32:3) December 10 Vayishlach (Gen. 32:4-36:43) December 17 Vayeshev (Gen. 37:1-40:23) December 24: Miketz (Gen. 41:1-44:17; Num. 28:9-15; Num. 7:42-47) December 31 Vayigash (Gen. 44:18-47:27)

Chanukah • Dec. 19-26, 25 Kislev-2 Tevet

Eight-day holiday commemorating Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks and the miracle of the rededication of the Temple. One day’s oil for the Temple Menorah lasted eight days. A chanukiah (menorah) is lit for eight nights, and latkes (potato pancakes) are fried in oil to commemorate the story.

Children play with dreidels, and gifts are exchanged.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

Dec. 11: Adam Feiner

Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Dayton VA Medical Center People Who Need People - Exploring Our Innate Need for Connection

Our New Kabbalat Shabbat Services Something for Everyone • Fridays, 5 p.m.

Idra Shabbat, Dec. 2 & 16: Exploring Jewish meditation and nigunim, wordless melodies Rhythm ‘N’ Ruach, Dec. 9: Family celebration full of songs, prayer & movement with instruments Our popular Kabba-Lotsa-Fun-Shabbat on Zoom, Dec. 23

305 Sugar Camp Circle Dayton, Ohio 45409 937•293•9520 www.bethabrahamdayton.org

PAGE 23

JEWISH FAMILY EDUCATION

L'chaim, To life!

The Power of Stories Series

At the 2012 Diamond Jubilee celebration of Queen Elizabeth II, one ceremonial address was given by a representative of the Jewish community, Vivian Wineman. He included the traditional Jewish blessing, wishing her majesty well "until 120." Amused, the queen

Candace R. Kwiatek looked quizzically at Prince Philip, observed Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, neither having ever heard that expression.

While the number first appears in Genesis as the limit of a human lifetime, the queen later learned, its status as a blessing originates with Moses about whom the Torah remarks, “Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyes were undimmed and his strength undiminished.”

“L’chaim! It’s the quintessential Jewish greeting, Jewish toast, Jewish hope, Jewish saying,” writes Rabbi Amy Perlin. And it embodies the two essential qualities of Moses with which Jews bless others:

optimistically looking to the future and fully engaging in the world of the moment.

Perhaps l'chaim is also why every year we reread the Akedah, the Binding of Isaac.

By ritualizing death, we are spurred to embrace life, suggests Rabbi Joel Sisenwine.

After all, who has ever had a brush with death and not returned to life with renewed vigor and sense of purpose?

In this spirit, Victor Frankl advises, “So live as if you were living already for the second time.”

Modern psychology has uncovered some interesting parallels with the Jewish perspective.

Research shows that looking to the future creates an emotional target, a destination that gives us purpose, notes Wharton psychologist Adam Grant.

Research also reveals the psychological benefits of being in the moment: greater happiness and excitement about life as well as feelings of security and a sense of self.

As Medium's Kylie Fuller writes, “Presence anchors us to the now.”

Thousands of years ago, Judaism developed around those same themes. The notions of repairing the world (tikun

olam), divine judgment, and a future Messianic Age are the explicit objectives of looking to the future.

Presence evokes family and community, meaningful endeavors, and opportunities to make a difference, all elements of life addressed by the biblical commandments and engagement in Jewish living.

Early in the book of Numbers, the 12 wealthy tribal princes of Israel squeeze all of their tribes’ donations to the Tabernacle into just six wagons. It would have been easier with 12, but there’s a message Wedding Ceremony by Issachar Ber here. Life isn’t about ease; it’s Ryback about purpose. developed. Thursday became Young or old, each of us their favorite day of the week. must live life to the fullest by Then Yaakov heard Chaim giving of ourselves, sharing was in the hospital. The next our unique talents, making day, he headed over. “Chaim, every moment count in order to what on earth are you doing justify the gift that is life. That’s here?” “Me? What are you the message of these stories. doing here?” “Chaim…it’s Thursdays with Chaim.

Thursday.” And they picked up For decades, as his kids were where they’d left off. The next born and his job grew, Yaaevening Chaim passed away. kov would busily nod to his As Yaakov returned home neighbor Chaim, calling out after the funeral, he looked “Good morning!” One day, over at Chaim’s house, images Yaakov decided to ask Chaim of their times together making to be his study partner. “Of him smile. But there could have course! That’s a wonderful been so many more. idea,” Chaim said. “When shall Red ribbon-blue ribbon. we start?”

When Daniel visited his mothAnd so it began. Every er, they naturally gravitated to Thursday, Chaim arrived the care facility’s large, wellpromptly on Yaakov’s doorlit social hall. Surrounded by step, and as they studied silent, unsmiling, fading people together, a strong friendship with thousand-yard stares, Daniel wondered how he could make a difference.

“Ahem… Ladies… I am desperate for advice,” Daniel called out one day—in Yiddish.

“It has to do with keeping an evil eye away from a child.”

Heads popped up and turned toward him, eyes alight.

“My mother suggests it’s necessary to pin a colored ribbon on the child’s undergarment.

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Happy Chanukah

But she doesn’t remember the color, so I have selected a blue one. Is this correct?”

One ancient woman approached, squinting and pursing her lips. “Vos has du gezukt?

A blaue bandl fur an ahora? S’iz ganz meshiga. Nur a rote bandl!” she said disdainfully, loosely translated as “Moron! Are you for real? What kind of an idiot would use a blue ribbon against the evil eye? That’s ridiculous! It’s absolutely mandatory to use red ribbons.”

The room of 23 women all began to talk at once, animatedly arguing ribbon colors and then moving on to more efficient evil-eye techniques — all from asking for a bit of advice. After that, every time he walked into the social hall, they all waited expectantly for Daniel to ask them for their help. And he never disappointed them.

Epilogue. Routine tests unexpectedly revealed a spot on Melvin’s lung. Possibly cancer.

Scheduled for a more definitive test in a few weeks, Melvin began to plan.

First, he quit his job, and then began traveling to places he’d always wanted to visit, especially Israel.

He scheduled frequent trips to visit the children and grandchildren, set up lunch dates with friends, and set to writing an ethical will as his legacy.

When the results came back showing the spot was benign scar tissue, Melvin was elated.

And yet, having made plans for a last year filled with passion and joy and creativity, he was just a bit disappointed.

And an unsettling question continued to haunt him: What’s stopping me from doing all those things I was going to do if I was going to die? Why do I have to wait? L’chaim!

Literature to share An Affair of Spies by Ronald Balson. The son of a prominent German scientist, Nathan Silverman is sent to America in the aftermath of Kristallnacht. Hoping for a chance to fight the Nazis, he enlists in the military and is quickly selected for a special project. Together with a brilliant Frenchspeaking scientist, he is to smuggle a German physicist out of Europe to give America an edge in the race to develop a nuclear weapon. A tale of love, heroism, and action-packed espionage, this historical thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat.

A Snake, A Flood, A Hidden Baby: Bible Stories for Children

by Meir Shalev. From the whimsical illustrations to the inviting and humorous narrative, this retelling of six popular tales from the Bible is sure to appeal to children and adults alike. Values of gratitude, honesty, hospitality, kindness and more come to life, as do the consequences of choices both good and bad. An absolute winner, and highly recommended especially for the primary ages.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

MAZEL TOV! Dan Phillips was elected Butler County Juvenile Court Judge. Dan grew up in the Englewood/Clayton area and is the son of Stan and Sue Phillips. Dan has been with the Butler County Prosecutor's Office since 2006. Currently, he lives in West Chester with his wife, Sarah, a pediatric psychologist at Dayton Children's Hospital, and their daughters Ellie and Sophie. Dan's term begins in January 2023.

Dr. Martin Jacobs received the Radiologist Excellence Award at the 13th Annual Greater Dayton Imaging Professionals Recognition Event, Nov. 10 at the Sinclair Ponitz Center.

Marty is a nuclear medicine physician with more than 40 years in the field.

We want to hear from you! Let us know about your simchas! Send your Mazel Tov announcements to mweiss@jfgd.net.

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This fried Filipino delicacy is perfect for Chanukah

By Abby Ricarte, The Nosher There's no question that the most delicious, comforting recipes are the simplest, especially if they come with a bushel of history and soul. My Jewish husband Miki’s grandmother, Grandma Esta, made the best brisket I’ve ever tasted. I know that these might be fighting words, but hear me out. It was complex, sweet and tender — everything that Grandma Esta embodied. I was honored that she passed down her recipe to me, but also surprised that the world’s best brisket could pretty much be made only with carrots and onions.

My own Filipina mother makes the best lumpia. Hands

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Brisket lumpia

down. World’s best, even.

Lumpia is a Filipino spring roll filled with meat or vegetables, rolled skillfully and fried to golden perfection. My earliest food memories include platters of lumpia at family parties with relatives raving while inhaling as my mom basked in the compliments. Preparing for parties typically meant that my mom would make the filling ahead of time. Eventually, I would lose many of my weekend mornings to hours of rolling lumpia for her in front of that never-ending bowl of filling. I had no idea what was in the filling. It wasn’t until I was an adult, throwing my own parties, that I was able to pull back the curtain on the mysterious, world’s best lumpia recipe and call my mom to just ask.

When I have leftover brisket in my fridge and guests coming over, my first thought is: let’s turn this into lumpia! Lumpia is always a crowd-pleaser and easy to fry ahead and serve at room temperature.

My brisket lumpia was merely a quick Filipinx/Jewish experiment, but it tasted so wonderfully familiar. I had forgotten that my mom’s lumpia recipe is really mostly carrots and onions just like Grandma Esta’s brisket. As I look forward to creating my own special Jewish home with my husband, I’m comforted by these unexpected connections between his family and my own.

Note: You can find spring roll pastry for this recipe in the freezer aisle at Asian food markets. It is similar to phyllo dough, but not the same as egg roll wrappers.

1 lb. ground beef 1 cup raw walnuts 2 yellow onions, roughly chopped

1 carrot, roughly chopped 1 tsp. of salt (plus more to taste) 1 packet spring roll pastry (found in the freezer aisle at Asian grocery stores—similar to phyllo dough) 2 Tbsp. neutral oil (i.e., avocado, grapeseed, vegetable) plus about ½ cup more for shallow frying Store-bought sweet chili sauce for dipping 1. In a food processor, add walnuts, onions, and carrot.

Pulse until finely minced.

2. In a large wok or sauté pan on medium high heat, heat two tablespoons of oil. Add vegetable mixture and sauté for two minutes.

3. Add ground beef to the pan and combine thoroughly.

Cook until beef is just about brown and there is no more red. Add salt to taste. Remove the filling from the pan and set aside to cool.

4. Roll the lumpia. Place a single pastry sheet onto a cutting board or clean counter.

Point one corner toward you so that the sheet is positioned like a diamond. Add about two teaspoons of the cooled filling to the lower triangle that is closest to you.

Use your fingers to shape the filling into a log. Pull the bottom corner up and over the filling and roll tightly, tucking in the sides like a burrito.

5. Use a dab of water on your finger to seal the final edge.

Repeat and roll the rest of the lumpia.

6. Add enough oil to a large wok or pan on medium high heat so that it reaches about a half inch from the bottom of the pan. Gently heat the oil and fry the lumpia until golden brown.

Serve lumpia with a side of sweet chili sauce for dipping.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

Apple Piroshki for dessert

Airy fried buns with an apple-caramel filling

By Sonya Sanford The Nosher Piroshki are a popular pastry in Eastern Europe.

It's a catch-all term for a variety of stuffed pastries, often oval in shape. You’ll find piroshki that are fried or baked, made with yeast-leavened dough, puff pastry, or shortcrust pastry.

They can be savory or sweet, and common fillings include sautéed cabbage, mashed potato with caramelized onion, and sweet apple.

When piroshki are made with fried yeasted dough, they are akin to a donut. Chanukah is my favorite time of year to make apple piroshki.

This dough recipe is similar in its ingredients and methods to sufganiyot. What makes piroshki different is that the filling is added before the dough is fried.

Like sufganiyot, piroshki benefit from a generous shower of powdered sugar before serving.

Note: You can use this recipe to make a baked version (instructions below).

Start with 3¾ cups of flour; if you later find the dough too sticky as you are kneading, add more flour one spoonful at a time. Make a well in the center of the flour. Add the melted cooled butter, egg, egg yolk, and salt to the well in the flour. Then add the milk and yeast mixture.

Combine the wet and the dry ingredients on the mixer’s lowest setting, or gently by hand.

Once the ingredients are combined and start to form a ball, increase the speed on the mixer to medium, or transfer the dough to a flat surface and begin to knead the dough. The dough will be very sticky, especially at first, but as you knead it will become smoother. Knead the dough until silky, soft, and smooth, about 5-6 minutes in For the dough: the mixer, or 10 minutes by 1¼ cup warm milk 2¼ tsp. (1 packet) active dry hand. The dough will slightly stick to the sides of the bowl, yeast but will easily form a smooth, 2 Tbsp. sugar soft ball in your hands. Once 4 Tbsp. (½ stick) butter, the dough is kneaded, transfer melted and cooled it to a lightly oiled bowl, cover 1 large egg the bowl with plastic wrap or 1 large egg yolk a damp towel, and place in a 1 tsp. kosher salt 3¾ -4 cups all-purpose flour, warm part of the kitchen; allow start with less and add more the dough to rise for 1-1½ hours or until doubled in size. While flour if needed the dough is rising, make your 1 liter neutral oil for frying filling. (e.g., sunflower, canola, or To make the filling, start by vegetable) peeling and coring the apples.

Dice them small, and add them For the filling: to a bowl. Combine them with 2½ lbs. (about 6-7) apples sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, (Crimson, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or any baking and a pinch of salt. Add them to a deep skillet or large pot, and apple) cook them on medium heat for ½ cup granulated sugar 15 to 20 minutes, or until soft1/3 cup light or dark brown ened and most of the liquid has sugar evaporated. The mixture will 1 tsp. ground cinnamon start to look like apple pie fillbig pinch of salt ing, the liquid will thicken and 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract become syrupy, and the apples will be golden brown. Turn off Start by making the dough. the heat and stir in the vanilla Warm the milk so that it is warm to the touch, but not sim- extract. Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool. mering (between 90-110 deLine two baking sheets with grees). Combine the warm milk with the yeast and sugar. Allow parchment.

Once the dough has risen, the yeast to activate and become punch it down and divide it into foamy for five to 10 minutes.

16 equal-sized pieces. To do so, Add the flour to a stand form the dough into a rectangle, mixer with the dough hook divide it into four equal parts, attachment, or to a large bowl and then divide each section if making the dough by hand.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

into four again. For uniformity, weigh each piece.

Form each piece into a ball, and cover with a clean kitchen towel so they do not dry out as you work.

On a lightly floured surface, form the piroshki by rolling each ball into a thin circle, about 4 to 5 inches in diameter. Add 1½ tablespoons of filling into the center of the circle of dough. Fold the dough upward toward the center, equally on each side, and pinch the piroshki firmly closed along the top forming them into a sealed oval shape.

Place the formed piroshki onto the parchment-lined baking sheets seam-side down, eight per sheet with 2 to 3 inches between each pastry.

Cover the piroshki with loose plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and allow to rise again, for 30 minutes.

While the dough is rising for the second time, preheat your oil for frying (if baking, see instructions below). Fill a heavy bottomed pot or Dutch oven with 2 to 3 inches of oil. Use a candy thermometer to make sure the oil is at 350 degrees. If you do not have a thermometer, you will know the oil is ready when you place the handle of a wooden spoon into the oil and small bubbles form around the spoon; if the dough is browning too quickly, lower the oil slightly as needed.

Once the piroshki have risen a second time you can begin frying or baking. Fry the piroshki in batches of two to three at a time; be careful not to crowd them. Place the piroshki seam-side down into the oil and fry for 40 to 50 seconds on each side, until they are golden brown all over. Transfer to a paper towel-lined rack or sheet pan. Once they are done, allow to cool 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar just before serving.

For baked piroshki, after the piroshki have risen a second time, beat an egg with a splash of water. Brush the piroshki with the egg wash, and then bake them for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, rotate the baking sheets and bake for another eight to 10 minutes, or until the piroshki are evenly golden brown on all sides. Transfer to a rack to cool slightly, and serve warm or at room temperature.

These are best eaten fresh, but can last two to three days if warmed up before serving.

Wishing you a delicious Chanukah.

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PAGE 27

The Beth Or Brisketeers are back.

perature, just to heat it through.

And that's when it gets really tender and the sauce is embedTemple Beth Or ded into it."

• "You've got to use a really sharp slicing knife, 16-inch, 18-inch knives for slicing meat. Some people try to use an electric slicer, and

By Marshall Weiss that just shreds it."

The Observer Along with the brisket, It began with their entry Temple Beth Or also sells in Chabad's Kosher Brisket homemade chopped chicken Cook-Off in April 2013. liver prepared by congregants Members of Temple Beth Ellen Lauber, Helen MarkOr decided to put together man, and Ellen Holroyd. a team.

Ellen Holroyd says she "Heath Gilbert contacted preps the onions, and Ellen a couple of us and said, Lauber and Helen Markman 'Hey, you want to do this?' prepare the liver and combine Scott Segalewitz says. "It the ingredients. The chicken was Heath, David Char, and livers are sourced from a local me." poultry farm.

Scott thought their team Temple Beth Or Brisketeers' 2019 lineup in the temple kitchen (L to R): Scot Denmark, Marc Siegel, Scott Segalewitz, Jake "We have a lot of fun," she Elder, Gregory Geiser, Ed Wolf, Dave London, Bill Fried, Neil Kahn. Not pictured: Mark Gruenberg, Corky Katz, Dr. Mike should have a name. He says, though the chopped livHalasz. had custom aprons made er team hasn't come up with up proclaiming themselves the doesn't add much flavor and kah."

We've had years when we've a name. Last year, they sold 23 Beth Or Brisketeers. They also it just prevents the seasonings This year's Temple Beth Or sold out by 1 o'clock, 12:30." pounds of chopped liver, by the won first place in the cook-off. from getting into the meat."

Artisan Fair and Brisket Lunch The Brisketeers' recipe is half pound.

And since December 2014, • "When you're trimming the will be held Sunday, Dec. 4 based on Kansas City BarbeIn the spirit of Chanukah their prize-winning recipe has from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. cued Brisket, which Jewish food fat, we also separate the point — but without giving away lured carnivorous customers and the flat. (We use whole Scott says they'll sell nearly maven Joan Nathan included Brisketeer trade secrets — here to Temple Beth Or's Chanukah packers that include the flat half of their brisket by the in her seminal 1998 cookbook, is the Kansas City Barbecued Bazaar — so much so that the and the point.) With the point, pound. That's in addition to Jewish Cooking in America.

Brisket recipe from Joan Naannual event was renamed you have the grain going in those who will buy brisket The recipe — along with all than's Jewish Cooking in America Temple Beth Or's Artisan Fair one direction and with the flat, sandwiches and combo platters recipes in Nathan's cookbooks (Knopf). and Brisket Lunch. it's going in another direction. at the event, which will feature — is kosher. Temple Beth Or's That first year, head BrisIf you don't separate it, when more than 30 vendors. The kitchen and the food available 1 5-to-6-lb. brisket of beef keteer Scott says, his team you're cutting through it, half sandwiches and platters may be at its Artisan Fair and Brisket ¼ cup liquid smoke prepared about 60 pounds of you're going with the grain, preordered too.

Lunch are not.

3 medium chopped onions brisket. half you're going against the "We'll close the kitchen about Nathan gives credit for 1 garlic clove, peeled and "Today, we're doing 300 grain. You always want to cut 2 o'clock or when the brisket the recipe to Marsha Pinson halved pounds. It always sells out." against the grain." sells out, whichever comes first. of Kansas. Scott says he has Salt and freshly ground Even in the middle of Scott Segalewitz adapted and continues to • "When we pull the briskets pepper to taste Covid, the Brisketeers ofout after five hours, we'll get develop the recipe.

3 Tbsp. brown sugar fered drive-up takeout.

As Jews across the Miami rid of all the liquid that's in 1 16-oz. bottle ketchup Scott's pro tip: preorder there, slice it up, and add the Valley start thinking about ½ cup water at templebethor.com. "If sauce at that point. Then we'll their Chanukah menus, 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire you want to be sure that Scott shares some Brisketeer wrap it back up, put it in the sauce you get it, do that. A lot trays and in the fridge. It's a insider tips: 1 Tbsp. dry mustard or 1½ of people are ordering • "Brisket is such a tough cooked brisket, still a little bit Tbsp. Dijon mustard by the pound. We have on the tough side. It stays overmeat that you have to cook 2 tsp. celery seasoning one person that gets eight night in the fridge and the next it low and slow." (optional) pounds, and they hold it day, we'll pull it out and put it • "Trim off as much of 6 Tbsp. pareve margarine for the family for Chanu- The Brisketeers' Kansas City Barbecued Brisket the fat as possible. The fat back in the oven at a low tem-

Some insider hacks ahead of their big day, Dec. 4

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PAGE 28

1. Wash and dry the brisket and sprinkle with two tablespoons of the liquid smoke.

Wrap in heavy duty aluminum foil and marinate overnight.

2. The next day, open the foil, sprinkle on the chopped onions, garlic, and pepper. Rewrap everything in the foil and bake in a preheated 325-degree oven for five hours.

3. Meanwhile, combine the remaining two tablespoons liquid smoke, the brown sugar, ketchup, water, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, celery seasoning, margarine, and salt and pepper. Simmer, uncovered, for about 30 minutes.

4. Remove the foil, slice the brisket thinly, and pour the sauce over all. Raise the oven to 350 degrees and reheat, covered, for 30 minutes. Yields 10 servings.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

Arts&Culture

Playwright/actor brings Wiesenthal back to life the idea of honoring his participation in the war. When Wiesenthal passed away in 2005, I immediately started asking people, ‘Would you see a play about Simon Wiesenthal?’ The answer was ‘yes’ in every case. So I figured I had something.”

Dugan writes that “tolerance plays a big part in my life. Teaching the value of tolerance was, I believe, Simon Wiesenthal’s greatest achievement.”

Wiesenthal the book is a photo-laden volume enhanced by a study guide and questions that can serve as educational tools for teachers and students.

Not that this happened overnight. Two years of research and one year of writing built the script. The book was published by Deborah Herman of Bashert Books, Stockbridge, Mass.

Herman, Dugan’s collaborator, said she fell in love with Wiesenthal the play shortly after it debuted off-Broadway in November 2014. “After the play, I told Tom ‘If you ever want to do a book, call me,’” she said.

“Hopped right on it,” Dugan cracked. “Called her five years later,” in 2019, not long before Covid-19 exploded. Throughout the pandemic, Herman and Dugan spent their southern

By Ari L. Noonan Jewish Journal (Los Angeles) Simon Wiesenthal — history’s most successful pursuer of Nazis,who brought almost 1,100 criminals to justice — lives again in playwright and actor Tom Dugan’s talented hands. Dugan has been performing his one-person play, Wiesenthal, around the world since 2009. And last year, he published a book based on the play. He'll bring Wiesenthal the play and the book to Dayton on Dec. 4 as part of Tom Dugan in his play, Wiesenthal the JCC's Cultural Arts and Book Series.

How a nice Irish Catholic To quote the book: “Wiesenboy from New Jersey came to thal was a Polish Jewish Holobring a broad, intense focus to a caust survivor, Nazi hunter and modern-day Jewish hero is also writer. After World War II, he fascinating. dedicated his life to the search “Writing about Wiesenthal for and legal prosecution of resonated with me,” Dugan Nazi criminals, and to the prosaid, “because of the impormotion of Holocaust memory tant lessons my father taught and education.” me and also because my wife, Wiesenthal died at the age of Amy, and our two boys, Eli and 96 in 2005; Dugan polishes the Miles, are Jewish.

Nazi hunter's unprecedented “My father’s generation did accomplishments to a brilliant a great job of passing down gloss. to my generation the valuable lessons of the Holocaust. It was incumbent on me to pass The JCC Cultural Arts & Book those lessons to later generaSeries presents Tom Dugan in tions. Writing and performing Wiesenthal, 2 p.m., Sunday, Wiesenthal is my way of doing Dec. 4 at the Boonshoft CJCE, that.”

525 Versailles Dr., Centerville.

Dugan’s father, a World War $5 adults, students free. Register II veteran, “was a liberator,” the at jewishdayton.org/events. author said. “I have always had

California-to-Massachusetts days on Zoom. “I am so impressed by his attention to detail,” Herman said.

“His entire career was about the future, not the past,” Dugan added, “how the lessons we have learned from the Holocaust must be applied today.

The most important message is that people cannot understand the evil that the Nazis represented until they can recognize the potential for evil in themselves. That is tough for people to swallow.”

Dugan said teaching was a crucial Wiesenthal contribution to society. “Nazi hunting was heroic and necessary,” he acknowledged. “But as a teacher of the psychology of man, and of sociology, that was Wiesenthal’s most valuable legacy. He

broke down how these things could have happened in an understandable, human way that the masses can wrap their head around in present times.”

Wiesenthal talked about “the human savage,” Dugan said.

“When Wiesenthal said we must recognize the human savage in ourselves, that’s a tough pill to swallow. People get very offended. ‘There is nothing in me that would be in a Nazi,’ they say. ‘Nazis are monsters.’

My answer is, ‘Monsters are make-believe. Nazis were real.

They were human beings.’

People don’t like to hear that.

The danger is that if you make the Nazis like vampires, there is no danger there. The savage inside of us is very real. Unless you look at it and understand it, you might be moved by it.”

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PAGE 29

Arts&Culture

Universal Pictures

Spielberg’s very Jewish memoir film The Fabelmans one of his career's best

By Jordan Hoffman, Times of Israel In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Tony Kushner explained how the Fabelmans, the central family in Steven Spielberg’s new film, got their name.

“Spielberg means play-mountain,” Kushner said. “Spieler is an actor in Yiddish, and a spiel can be speech or can be a play. I’ve always thought how wild that this guy is this great once-in-acentury storyteller who would be called Spielberg, play-mountain.”

Continuing this thought, he swapped spiel with fabel, the German word for fable, which perfectly describes how this memoir film from Steven Spielberg isn’t strict autobiography. It’s highly unlikely that a high school-aged genius promised someone that he’d forever keep something secret “unless I make a movie about it someday.” That would just be too perfect.

The Fabelmans represents Kushner’s fourth collaboration with Spielberg — but the first time that the legendary director has taken a co-writing credit.

Indeed, throughout his vast career, Spielberg has almost always delegated the business of getting the words on the page to someone else. But this time he isn’t focusing his camera outward to benign space aliens or an adventuresome archeologist, or even toward Normandy Beach or Nazi concentration camps, but inward — not only to the peculiar history of his own family, but also to his growth as an artist and a person. It is a remarkable work of cinema, one of the best movies of the year, and unlike anything else in this innovator’s incomparable career.

The two-and-a-half-hour picture zooms by, misdirecting at first to appear like a collection of remembered childhood episodes in the spirit of Federico Fellini’s Amarcord or Woody Allen’s Radio Days. It emerges out the other end not just an examination of storytelling, or even a celebration of it, but a solemnization.

The film’s climax, a pretzel of conflicted emotion, positions young Sammy Fabelman becoming aware of his superpower: knowing how to think

Gabriel LaBelle as Sammy Fabelman in The Fabelmans, co-written, produced, and directed

by Steven Spielberg.

cinematically, to express himself in images and editing. But he is still utterly perplexed, even daunted, by this talent.

And he is unable to predict how people will react to the magnitude of his work.

Mind you, at this stage in his career he is only making home movies.

But there’s a lot going on in his home.

The older brother to three sisters, Sam (played at first as a wide-eyed boy by Mateo Zoryon Francis-DeFord, then as a more self-assured and sharp teen by the terrific Gabriel LaBelle), is first to discover that there is discord in his parents’ marriage.

His movie camera is a microscope, and by examining the edges of the frame, he puts together that his mother (an astoundingly good Michelle Williams) and his “Uncle” Benny (Seth Rogen) are very much in love. Moreover, his father (Paul Dano) remains unaware.

What everyone else is aware of, however, is that Mom (Mitzi) is one of those larger-than-life people — a center of gravity who commands attention in whatever room (or around any campfire) she is in. It is a special type of woman that can inspire a child, later

‘A little bit of light pushes away a lot of darkness.’

Happy Chanukah

daytonhillel.org • 937.277.8966 • dkmecoli@daytonhillel.org PAGE 30

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

Universal Pictures

A Local Perspective on The U.S. and the Holocaust

From left: Sammy Fabelman (Gabriel LaBelle), Mitzi Fabelman (Michelle Williams), Burt Fabelman (Paul Dano), Natalie Fabelman (Keeley Karsten), Reggie Fabelman (Julia Butters), and Lisa Fabelman (Sophia Kopera) in The Fabelmans.

in life, to create a cinematic love letter even when, let’s get down to it, she did abandon her family to follow her dreams. It is also indicative of the level of maturity and nuance in this elegantly observed story.

Writing teachers often speak of creating something universal by highlighting the specific. For many North American Jews, however, the details in The Fabelmans will jump out. Beyond noting theirs is the only “dark” house on Christmas, aside from Mitzi referring to herself as mamelah or calling her children “dahlink” in a half-kidding way — or by ignoring her mother-in-law’s “this is brisket?” chides — there’s the unspoken, mostly benign us-against-them defense a Jewish family takes on in a non-Jewish environment. “Let’s leave the family mishegas (craziness) at home” the kids decide as they prep for a new day among antisemitic bullies.

There’s also the one proudly Christian girl at school who feels she can save Sam’s soul through necking, which the hormonal teen is not above leaning into. Her bedroom wall is plastered with pictures of the pop music and film stars of the day alongside images of Jesus. There’s also the young Bob Dylan, but back then very few knew the earnest folkie was actually named Zimmerman.

There aren’t any bar mitzvah scenes (though certainly some opening of Chanukah gifts), but Judaism saturates this movie. I’d need to consult Lenny Bruce’s legendary Jewish/Goyish routine, but Mitzi setting out dinner on paper plates on a giant paper tablecloth so she can wrap it all up in a ball and have a clean dining room in 15 seconds is just using some sechel (common sense). The official excuse is that she is a pianist, and needs to watch after her fingers.

Mitzi’s gift at music is an only-hinted-at tragedy in the story, one of her roads not taken. She gave up playing for family — a family she adores, including her husband, whom she

recognizes is unbearably kind. She confesses that when she is at times cruel to him “he buys me a dress.” After a beat, “from Saks,” she adds, reminding us, again, that details are everything.

This may sound like an enormous therapy session for Spielberg, and while that no doubt is part of it, for us in the audience it’s also a tremendous amount of fun.

Much of the movie is racing around, making 8mm adventure films (or collecting the Arizona scorpions to trade in for cash to buy the film). There’s also plenty that shows the tactile way in which movies were once made. Kids with their iPhones will be amazed to see the razor blades and glue. There are plenty of laughs, because that’s part of growing up, even with (or maybe especially with) all the tears.

Judd Hirsch appears in a key scene as Yiddish sage, Great Uncle Boris, to lay out some hard truths about art and sacrifice, and while there’s nothing in his speech you haven’t heard a hundred times before, there is a declarative significance in hearing it told in this setting.

Spielberg’s Version of the Gospel of Art. Hirsch, Jeannie Berlin, Robin Bartlett, and, oddly, David Lynch, are some of the voices who come in during clutch sequences.

I’ve seen The Fabelmans twice now and the thing I can’t get over is just how cleverly it all snaps into place. What’s also impressive is what it doesn’t do.

There’s no corny foreshadowing of future Spielberg tropes — nothing about a shark at the beach, or interplanetary lights in the sky, or the crack of a whip.

There is, however, an abundant respect for the power of images.

It took Spielberg 50 years to make this movie. He’s instinctively known where to put his camera and how to draw out performances this whole time.

It turns out one of the best stories he had to tell was by shooting what was in the mirror.

One of the best movies of the year, and unlike anything else in this innovator's incomparable career.

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

We are honored to welcome the Co-Director who will discuss the making of the documentary, one of the documentary’s key scholars, and two local Daytonians who will share their families’ stories of the Holocaust.

Virtual Panelists: Sarah Botstein, Co-Director, Florentine Films Rebecca Erbelding, Author, “Rescue Board: The Untold Story of America’s Efforts to Save the Jews of Europe”

Local Panelists: Renate Frydman, Ph.D.

Curator, Prejudice & Memory: A Holocaust Exhibit National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

Eleanor Hambury Must Holocaust Survivor

Moderator: Marshall Weiss

Editor & Publisher, The Dayton Jewish Observer Project Director, Miami Valley Jewish Genealogy & History

Sarah Botstein

Rebecca Erbelding

Renate Frydman, Ph.D.

Eleanor Hambury Must

Monday, December 5, 2022 7:00 – 8:30 pm National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Carney Auditorium 1100 Spaatz St., Dayton, OH 45433 6:45 pm – Doors Open 7:00 – 8:00 pm – Panel Discussion 8:00 – 8:30 pm – Desserts and Coffee, Meet the Panelists Admission and Parking is free.

Reservations required at thinktv.org/USATH-Event RSVP at https://thinktv.org/USATH-Event/ Questions 937-220-1647 Event partners

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FUNDING FOR THE U.S AND THE HOLOCAUST WAS PROVIDED BY: BANK OF AMERICA; DAVID M. RUBENSTEIN; THE PARK FOUNDATION; THE JUDY AND PETER BLUM KOVLER FOUNDATION; GILBERT S. OMENN AND MARTHA A. DARLING; THE ARTHUR VINING DAVIS FOUNDATIONS; AND BY THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS OF THE BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY: JEANNIE AND JONATHAN LAVINE; JAN AND RICK COHEN; ALLAN AND SHELLEY HOLT; THE KORET FOUNDATION; DAVID AND SUSAN KREISMAN; JO CAROLE AND RONALD S. LAUDER; BLAVATNIK FAMILY FOUNDATION; CROWN FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES HONORING THE CROWN AND GOODMAN FAMILIES; THE FULLERTON FAMILY CHARITABLE FUND; DR. GEORGETTE BENNETT AND DR. LEONARD POLONSKY;THE RUSSELL BERRIE FOUNDATION; DIANE AND HAL BRIERLEY; JOHN AND CATHERINE DEBS; LEAH JOY ZELL AND THE JOY FOUNDATION. FUNDING WAS ALSO PROVIDED BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND BY PUBLIC TELEVISION VIEWERS.

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Arts&Culture

1930s Philadelphia setting of Rothman-Zecher's 2nd novel

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es, and religious significances of certain words,

By Hannah Kasper Levinson and those readers will be swimming closer to the Special To The Observer ocean floor. Other readers will enter the novel Days after the final edits on his first novel, without that same knowledge, and those readSadness is a White Bird, Israeli American author Moriel Rothman-Zecher set out to create his next ers will be swimming closer to the surface of the ocean. There’s not a better or worse work of fiction. The discovery of a Andy Snow place for a fish to swim in an ocean.

Yiddish poetry collection led to his new novel, Before All the World, which Can you talk about your research was six years in the making and into queer Jewish life in Philadelreleased in November. phia in the early 1900s?

Rothman-Zecher, who as a child Research was such an exhilarating moved to Yellow Springs from Jepart of this book. In researching Jewrusalem and has lived on and off in ish queer history, there were a few both places, is now based in Philadelbooks that were central to my underphia. He is a National Book Award standing. One is George Chauncey’s 5-Under-35 recipient and a Dayton Gay New York: Gender, Urban Culture, Literary Peace Prize finalist. Here, he and the Making of the Gay Male World, talks about his research, the beauty of 1890-1940. This book totally transtranslation, and “falling in love with formed how I understood gay male the world despite history.”

Moriel Rothman-Zecher history in this country. In some ways it was safer to be a queer man in 1920 America Yiddish and its translation into English are than it was in 1940. Speakeasies were places essential to the storytelling in Before All the of sanctuary from the scrutiny of mainstream World. What was your experience with Yiddish America. The frenzy of anti-queer panic that before you wrote the novel? swept America happened as Prohibition ended I was a MacDowell fellow on residency in and a lot of these spaces came above ground.

New Hampshire and they have this gorgeous Come the ‘30s, police raids and officers pretendlibrary, the James Baldwin Memorial Library. I ing to be members of the community and arrestdon’t remember how this book popped out to me but I saw it on the shelf, this little book called ing and torturing people who they had contact with were real practices.

Bilingual Anthology of Modern Yiddish Poetry, seAnother source I loved was an article called lected and translated by Ruth Whitman. As soon Talking About Feygelekh: A Queer Male Representaas I cracked it open, I felt like I had stumbled tion in Jewish American Speech by Michael J. Sweet. across family members, in the sense that my great-grandparents were native Yiddish speakers Were there reasons you chose Philadelphia as and this was the language that coursed through generations of my family. I also thought that this the setting?

For my grandparents, who I was very close was really phenomenal poetry. But I was reading to growing up. Their parents came straight the book only on its right side. to Philadelphia. There’s a family story that is another genesis of this novel. Growing up, I had What do you mean by that? thought that my grandmother was one of two The English translation on the right side and the Yiddish on the left. There was something of a sisters. Only in my late teenage years I found out that my grandmother had a third sister who had heartbreak to my inability to even sound out the a child with a Black man in Philadelphia Yiddish words. I’d had the experience and was shortly after institutionalized for of reading modern Arabic poetry in the remainder of her life. Did she actuits original language and in translaally need institutionalization? It’s not so tion and it was pretty transformative. far-fetched to imagine that the very fact I started writing in this frenzied, of having a romantic affair with a Black joyous way. I was leaning on Yiddish man as a White-adjacent Jewish woman in syntax and memory, but not being America in that era could have been rensure that I was leaning on it right. dered a kind of psychosis. No one could I decided to take a pause for a year tell us what happened to the child. and learn Yiddish. I took an intensive course at Tel Aviv University, and The novel is heart wrenching and its traveled to Belarus and Lithuania characters have undergone deep traumas, but at through the fellowship Yiddishkayt Helix Project. The idea wasn’t that I would become perfect- the core is the phrase, “I can not believe that the world is only darkness.” Do you think Before ly fluent, but at least that I would go and learn All the World is ultimately an optimistic story? the grammar and if the syntactical experiment I I came across a gorgeous quote recently by was doing was valid. It was exciting for me to see how the language is still alive in literary, spoken, the poet Derek Walcott: “For every poet it is always morning in the world; history a forgotten, cultural, and political spheres. insomniac night. The fate of poetry is to fall in love with the world in spite of history.” For me, Do you think the reader needs some underthis book is exactly that. It’s not optimistic in the standing of Yiddish to follow the story? sense that the “lessons” of these eras have been Decidedly not. The novelist Arundhati Roy internalized and metabolized for the better. But it talked about writing novels in English that is a book that very much stands against despair. include non-English language transliteration Even in the most excruciating circumstances, sections. She imagines her novels as an ocean, and the reader like a fish. Some readers will have there is still this human capacity for decency and love. knowledge of these languages, cultural referenc-

THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

Happy Chanukah to our friends The Wagenfeld Family

Best wishes to all for a Happy Chanukah

Warm Chanukah greetings from

A sweet and joyous Chanukah

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Our warmest wishes for a joyous Chanukah

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Warm Chanukah greetings from Henny, Cheryl, Jeff, Barry & Judy Lubow Warm Chanukah greetings from Sammye Harrison & Family Warm Chanukah greetings from Patricia A. "Pat" Riley

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Happy Chanukah

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Our warmest wishes for a joyous Chanukah

Best wishes to all for a Happy Chanukah Jackie & Stan Schear

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Our warmest wishes for a joyous Chanukah

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

We wish the Dayton Jewish community a very happy Chanukah

Rina & Jeff Thau

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A sweet and joyous Chanukah

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PAGE 33

Warm Chanukah greetings from

A sweet and joyous Chanukah

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Happy Chanukah

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Wishing all of Dayton Happy Chanukah

Wishing all of Dayton Happy Chanukah

Our warmest wishes for a joyous Chanukah

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Adam & Tara Feiner

Birthright

Continued from Page 11 plied but did not go to marry somebody Jewish and to feel a deeper connection to Israel.

“Without a major immediate increase in fundraising, we will be hard-pressed to have the positive effect we’ve had on many individuals,” Mark said.

The Birthright Israel Foundation, its fundraising arm, is making a large appeal to donors this year for increased funding.

Though it receives large portions of its estimated $150 million annual budget from the Israeli government and large donors such as the Adelson Family Foundation, the foundation’s CEO, Izzy Tapoohi, said it is a myth that “just a few large donors” fund Birthright.

It’s been a difficult period for several of Birthright’s most stalwart funders, from various legal troubles for founder Michael Steinhardt to potential sanctions for Russian Jewish philanthropists in the wake of Russia’s war with Ukraine.

Young American Jews have also indicated in demographic studies that they feel less culturally and politically connected to Israel than previous generations, and the group IfNotNow, which aims to end American Jewish support for Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, urged a boycott and other protests of Birthright.

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THE DAYTON JEWISH OBSERVER • DECEMBER 2022

OBITUARIES Michael Fishbein, age 69, died peacefully in his sleep Nov. 9 at home in Franklin, Mass.

Michael was born and grew up in Queens, N.Y. He graduated from Stuyvesant High School, Bernard Baruch College of the City University of New York, and received his Ph.D. from Clark University in Worcester, Mass. Michael’s love of learning drew him to a career in academia. He served several colleges and universities as a teacher and administrator, spending time in Albany and Syracuse, N.Y.; Lyndonville, Vt.; Nashua, N.H.; Dayton, Ohio; and New London, Conn. His career brought him to Franklin as vice president, academic affairs, at Dean College in 2014.

He retired from Dean at the end of 2019. Friends and family will remember Michael for his sharp wit, his work ethic, his kindness, and his love of good bourbon.

Michael was predeceased by his parents, Irving and Lila Fishbein. He is survived by his beloved wife of 30 years, Mary Ann Oppenheimer, his sister Phyllis Sandler, nephew Matthew Sandler, niece Shelby Sandler Kempler, three great nieces, a great nephew, and many, many cousins. Interment was at Temple Israel Cemetery, Guilderland, N.Y. Phyllis F. Morris, age 84, of Dayton, passed away Oct. 29 at Brookhaven Assisted Living.

Phyllis was born in New York City in 1938, was a 1960 graduate of City College of New York, and a lifelong avid baseball fan of her beloved New York Yankees. She was an early childhood special education teacher for 47 years, working with Dayton Public Schools for 33 years. In the 1980s, she assisted in the design of the individualized education plan for children with special needs and was a member of Beth Abraham Synagogue. Phyllis was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Donald J.; parents, Murray and Margie Struhl and sister, Renee Otis. She is survived by her daughters, Paula Esterline of Brookville, Jessica Simko of Mason; son, Herbert Morris of Centerville; grandchildren, Melanie Esterline, Jason and Rachel Simko; dear friend, Mary Willenborg; other relatives and friends. Interment was at Beth Abraham Cemetery. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research or Hospice of Dayton in Phyllis' memory.

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